Tesla has commenced the handover of its all-electric Semi trucks to customers, following nearly a decade of development and delays since its initial reveal in 2017. The company held an event in Reno, Nevada, on Thursday night to detail the vehicle.
Production of the Semi will take place at a new factory in Reno, adjacent to Tesla's first Gigafactory. Tesla aims to build as many as 50,000 trucks annually at this plant, which equates to approximately 1,000 units per week. This initiative is expected to create 3,000 jobs for the local economy.
The most capable version of the Semi truck is anticipated to achieve a range of 500 miles or more on one charge, depending on the load size. This variant is expected to cost just under $300,000 before incentives. Shorter-range versions will also be available.
Dan Priestley, head of Tesla’s Semi program, noted that heavy trucks contribute 16% of emissions despite representing only 1% of vehicles on the road. The Semi's launch follows delays caused by factors including the pandemic, global parts shortages, and design changes based on pilot customer feedback.