Tesla launched high-volume production of its electric Semi last week at a 1.8 million-square-foot factory in Sparks, Nevada. The company handed the first trucks to PepsiCo, DHL and US Foods. The first production Semi came off the line in April.
The factory is designed to produce up to 50,000 trucks a year, per Axios. It is expected to add more than 3,000 jobs as production ramps, reported Quartz.
For carriers considering electric Class 8 trucks for regional routes, Tesla says the Semi’s operating costs can be significantly lower than diesel. Diesel has cost about 80 cents a mile in recent months, compared with 20 to 30 cents for electricity, based on a Tesla chart shown at the launch. The comparison comes as diesel prices have been around $6 a gallon.
Tesla offers two Semi configurations. The Standard Range model has a 325-mile range, while the Long Range version can travel 500 miles fully loaded. Unofficial estimates put their prices at about $260,000 and $290,000, respectively, according to Drive Tesla Canada. Tesla says its Megachargers can restore up to 60% of range in 30 minutes.
Tesla says it has deployed about 200 Semis since 2022 and that their uptime this year has exceeded 98%. Elon Musk, speaking in a pre-recorded video at the launch, called the Semi a breakthrough for heavy shipping and said its order waiting list is already significant.
Recent orders include 2,500 trucks from the ZET SCALE coalition of shippers and 500 from Einride in August. ArcBest’s ABF Freight bought two Semis for California linehaul in June following a pilot. At a Southern California depot operated by Forum Mobility, 25 carriers have reserved charging space for more than 330 Semis, according to Axios.
The charging network remains concentrated in California, Texas and the East Coast, with gaps across the Mountain West and Plains, according to Electrek.
