After nearly a decade of development and multiple delays, Tesla has begun delivering the first batch of Semi electric trucks to customers. The company held an event in Reno, Nevada, where it showcased the latest configurations, production capacity plans, and cost advantages of this heavy-duty electric truck.
This announcement comes at a time when Tesla is adjusting its business positioning. Recently, Musk has more frequently described Tesla as a robotics and AI company, but the company's current majority of revenue still comes from car sales. This event however, shifts the focus back to electric transportation and emission reduction.
Reno factory has started mass production
The event took place at Tesla's new factory located in Reno. This factory is dedicated to the production of Semi, and it is adjacent to the company's earlier Gigafactories. Tesla stated that the factory's future annual production capacity target can reach up to 50,000 units, which is approximately 1,000 units per week, and they plan to create 3,000 new jobs locally.
Company executives stated that the highest-performance version of Semi can have a range of over 500 miles on a single charge, with the actual range depending on the payload. The price for this version is expected to be close to $300,000, not including any subsidies. Tesla also plans to launch versions with shorter ranges.
However, sources familiar with the matter told TechCrunch that customers can now receive their vehicles once they are ready, but charging infrastructure remains one of the main obstacles in the promotion process.
Multiple designs are being adjusted during the extension period.
Semi was originally scheduled to go into production in 2019, but subsequent delays were due to the pandemic, shortages of components and chips, as well as design modifications necessitated by feedback from pilot customers.
Tesla claims that the mass-produced version has been reduced in weight by about 1,000 pounds compared to earlier versions. The company has also adjusted the drive axle design, simplifying the system from requiring three types of lubricating oil to just one, in order to reduce complexity.
Side window design was also one of the key points of this modification. Earlier versions featured flip-out windows that could not be fully opened, which has been a subject of criticism from truck drivers and industry observers for some time. Tesla acknowledged the shortcomings of the original design at an event, and the production version has now been changed to conventional lift-up windows to better accommodate practical usage scenarios such as toll booths, access control systems, and communication devices.
Endurance and economy remain the core selling points.
Tesla executives continued to emphasize at the event that the goal of Semi is to help fleets reduce total holding costs, decrease emissions, and improve vehicle reliability. The company stated that although heavy trucks account for only about 1% of the total number of road vehicles, they contribute 16% of emissions.
There have always been doubts in the past about whether electric heavy trucks can achieve long-range travel with a full load. Tesla has once again emphasized that the goal of achieving a single-range of 500 miles under full load has been achieved. The company attributes this result to improvements in overall vehicle efficiency, as well as continuous optimization between battery weight and energy consumption.
Elon Musk himself did not attend the event, but through a pre-recorded video, he stated that the Semi will be a truck with an excellent driving experience, and mentioned that some of Tesla's automated features will be added to this model "in the near future."
From a business perspective, the official delivery of Semi signifies that Tesla is expanding its electrification efforts beyond passenger vehicles to the heavy-duty transportation market. Moving forward, the speed at which production capacity increases, the actual operational performance of customers, and the progress of charging network construction will determine whether this model can truly enter a stage of large-scale commercial use.
