Tesla Semi Reaches Production Nearly Nine Years After Debut

Tesla began high-volume production of its long-delayed Semi truck at an invite-only event in Sparks, Nevada, on Thursday, according to WIRED. The company first showed the Semi concept on stage in late 2017; the Nevada event marked the shift from limited output to full production, roughly nine years later.

What did Tesla announce in Nevada?

Tesla's vice president of Vehicle Engineering, Lars Moravy, confirmed the truck's specifications at the livestreamed event, WIRED reported. Fleet managers who had placed orders were invited on stage and thanked publicly. CEO Elon Musk did not attend; he appeared only in a pre-taped video, skipping his second consecutive vehicle debut because he was attending a White House state dinner for Chinese President Xi Jinping, per the outlet.

How far can the Tesla Semi travel per charge?

Moravy said the long-range version is estimated to travel 500 miles per charge, a figure WIRED noted is close to the average daily distance covered by US long-haul truckers. The standard version carries an estimated range of 325 miles per charge, according to the same report.

How does the Semi compare with rival electric trucks?

Competitor electric semis currently advertise ranges between 155 and 430 miles, WIRED reported, positioning Tesla's long-range model above the current field on paper. In China, electric trucks already account for nearly 30 percent of heavy-duty truck sales, according to state media cited by WIRED, a pace the US has not matched.

What obstacles remain for electric semis in the US?

Upfront costs for electric semis run two to three times higher than diesel trucks, WIRED reported. Charging remains limited: Tesla's own website listed only two public megawatt chargers operating in the Los Angeles area at the time of the event, though Dan Priestley, who leads Tesla's Semi program, told WIRED the company plans to open 30 by year's end. Federal support has also narrowed — the Trump administration and congressional Republicans cut billions in EV funding last year and are working to lower fuel-economy standards for truck engines, per the report. Heavy trucks account for about 7 percent of US greenhouse gas emissions, WIRED noted.

Why might the timing favor Tesla anyway?

US diesel prices hit record highs this month, nearly double year-ago levels, as the Iran war disrupts Middle East oil production and shipping, according to WIRED. "The truck is going to make a ton of sense economically because the cost of electricity is much less than the cost of diesel, especially in these crazy times," Musk said in his pre-taped remarks, per the outlet.

By the numbers

• 500 miles: estimated range, long-range Semi
• 325 miles: estimated range, standard Semi
• 155–430 miles: range of competing electric semis
• 30: public megawatt chargers Tesla plans by year's end
• ~7%: share of US greenhouse gas emissions from heavy trucks

Whether fleet economics tip toward electric trucks now depends on how quickly Tesla and competitors build out megawatt charging and how long diesel prices stay elevated, factors WIRED's reporting leaves unresolved.