First Tesla Semi Rolls Off High-Volume Production Line (electrek.co)
(Thursday April 30, 2026 @03:00AM (BeauHD)
from the almost-one-decade-later dept.)
- Reference: 0183068828
- News link: https://tech.slashdot.org/story/26/04/30/0514236/first-tesla-semi-rolls-off-high-volume-production-line
- Source link: https://electrek.co/2026/04/29/tesla-semi-first-truck-high-volume-production-line/
Tesla has [1]produced the first Semi from its new high-volume production line at Gigafactory Nevada, a milestone for the long-delayed electric Class 8 truck program after years of pilot builds and delays. Electrek reports:
> The Tesla Semi has had one of the longest gestation periods in Tesla's history. First [2]unveiled in 2017, the truck was originally promised for production in 2019. That target slipped repeatedly -- to 2020, then 2021, then 2022 -- before Tesla finally delivered a handful of units to PepsiCo in late 2022. Those early trucks were essentially hand-built on a pilot line. Tesla spent the next three years refining the design, cutting roughly 1,000 lbs from the truck, and building out a dedicated factory adjacent to Gigafactory Nevada in Sparks. The company revealed the final production specs in February, confirming two trims: a Standard Range with 325 miles at full 82,000-lb gross combination weight, and a Long Range with 500 miles of range.
>
> Tesla is [3]quoting $290,000 for the 500-mile Long Range version and roughly $260,000 for the Standard Range -- making it the lowest-priced Class 8 battery electric tractor on the market. The shift from a pilot line to a high-volume production line is significant. Tesla's Semi factory is designed for an annual capacity of 50,000 trucks, though the company will ramp gradually. Analysts project deliveries between 5,000 and 15,000 units in 2026, but that sounds way too optimistic. [...] Both trims feature an 800-kW tri-motor drivetrain producing 1,072 hp and [4]support 1.2-MW Megacharger speeds , restoring 60% of range in roughly 30 minutes -- conveniently timed around a driver's mandatory rest break. Tesla has opened its first Megacharger station in Ontario, California, and has mapped 66 Megacharger locations across 15 states.
[1] https://electrek.co/2026/04/29/tesla-semi-first-truck-high-volume-production-line/
[2] https://tech.slashdot.org/story/17/11/17/099248/tesla-unveils-500-mile-range-semi-truck-620-mile-range-roadster-20
[3] https://news.slashdot.org/story/17/11/24/2248215/teslas-electric-semi-trucks-are-priced-to-compete-at-150000
[4] https://hardware.slashdot.org/story/26/01/03/238257/new-tesla-video-shows-tesla-semi-electric-truck-charging-at-12-mw
> The Tesla Semi has had one of the longest gestation periods in Tesla's history. First [2]unveiled in 2017, the truck was originally promised for production in 2019. That target slipped repeatedly -- to 2020, then 2021, then 2022 -- before Tesla finally delivered a handful of units to PepsiCo in late 2022. Those early trucks were essentially hand-built on a pilot line. Tesla spent the next three years refining the design, cutting roughly 1,000 lbs from the truck, and building out a dedicated factory adjacent to Gigafactory Nevada in Sparks. The company revealed the final production specs in February, confirming two trims: a Standard Range with 325 miles at full 82,000-lb gross combination weight, and a Long Range with 500 miles of range.
>
> Tesla is [3]quoting $290,000 for the 500-mile Long Range version and roughly $260,000 for the Standard Range -- making it the lowest-priced Class 8 battery electric tractor on the market. The shift from a pilot line to a high-volume production line is significant. Tesla's Semi factory is designed for an annual capacity of 50,000 trucks, though the company will ramp gradually. Analysts project deliveries between 5,000 and 15,000 units in 2026, but that sounds way too optimistic. [...] Both trims feature an 800-kW tri-motor drivetrain producing 1,072 hp and [4]support 1.2-MW Megacharger speeds , restoring 60% of range in roughly 30 minutes -- conveniently timed around a driver's mandatory rest break. Tesla has opened its first Megacharger station in Ontario, California, and has mapped 66 Megacharger locations across 15 states.
[1] https://electrek.co/2026/04/29/tesla-semi-first-truck-high-volume-production-line/
[2] https://tech.slashdot.org/story/17/11/17/099248/tesla-unveils-500-mile-range-semi-truck-620-mile-range-roadster-20
[3] https://news.slashdot.org/story/17/11/24/2248215/teslas-electric-semi-trucks-are-priced-to-compete-at-150000
[4] https://hardware.slashdot.org/story/26/01/03/238257/new-tesla-video-shows-tesla-semi-electric-truck-charging-at-12-mw
Promises Promises (Score:1)
by PseudoRandom Coward ( 5845118 )
Promised in 2 years, delivered in 9, that sounds about right for an Elon Musk company.
Re: Promises Promises (Score:2)
by fluffernutter ( 1411889 )
What do you mean? They did get delivered. People are still waiting for self driving.
Re: (Score:2)
by ledow ( 319597 )
Well... I think "delivered" is stretching it somewhat.
So far only Pepsi has some hand-built models. It's gonna be years before their earliest larger orders are even close to being fulfilled.
Oh Tesla, you rascals... (Score:1)
by TheMiddleRoad ( 1153113 )
[1]https://news.slashdot.org/stor... [slashdot.org] "the regular versions of the 300-mile and the 500-mile trucks will cost $150,000 and $180,000 each" Me? I'm still waiting for the Roadster I ordered.
[1] https://news.slashdot.org/story/17/11/24/2248215/teslas-electric-semi-trucks-are-priced-to-compete-at-150000?sdsrc=rel
500 miles? (Score:2)
by ThurstonMoore ( 605470 )
That's not even 12 hrs of "fuel".
Did it roll off under its own power? (Score:2)
Because we've had issues with semis (admittedly, for once not Teslas), being demonstrated with a little bit of gravity help...
Re: (Score:2)
Berlin to Warsaw in one tank!