The long-awaited Tesla Semi truck has officially entered production at the company's new, high-volume factory in Nevada. This development marks a significant milestone for Tesla, transitioning the Semi from a long-discussed project into a major manufacturing initiative.
Tesla released a photo of the inaugural truck on its official social media channels. The dedicated facility spans 157,935 square meters (1.7 million square feet) and is located adjacent to the original Gigafactory in Nevada. Although Tesla has previously manufactured a few trucks, those were produced manually and in small quantities.
First Semi off high volume line pic.twitter.com/fI1AdQrJFH
— Tesla Semi (@tesla_semi) April 29, 2026
The journey of the Tesla Semi has been lengthy. Initially unveiled in 2017, Tesla aimed for production to start in 2019. Subsequent timelines pushed that date to 2020, then to 2021, and finally to 2022. Although Tesla delivered some trucks to PepsiCo in late 2022, these were not built on a mass-production line, leading some to question if the Semi would ever see large-scale availability. Tesla's reputation for delayed timelines, often humorously referred to as "Elon time," raised doubts about the Semi's future.
Engineers at Tesla have worked diligently to enhance the Semi's design, successfully reducing its weight by approximately 454 kg. This reduction is critical, as a lighter truck can carry more cargo, allowing the vehicle to handle a maximum total weight of 37,190 kg with a fully loaded trailer.
Two variants of the Semi are available: the Standard Range model, capable of traveling 523 km on a single charge and priced starting at €222,000, and the Long Range model, which can cover 805 km before needing a recharge, starting at €248,000. Despite these prices appearing high, they are competitive compared to other manufacturers' electric trucks.
The Semi is equipped with three independent motors on its rear axles, delivering a combined output of 1,072 horsepower. To support these motors, Tesla has implemented its new 4680 battery cells. A key advantage of the Nevada factory is that Tesla produces these batteries onsite, eliminating delays associated with external shipping.
Charging such a large vehicle demands substantial energy; hence, Tesla has introduced the "Megacharger," which provides 1.2 megawatts of power. This allows the truck to recharge from virtually empty to 60% in just 30 minutes—ideal for drivers who must take breaks as mandated by law. Tesla has already established a Megacharger station in Ontario, California, with plans to build 66 more across 15 states.
While Tesla is not the only manufacturer in the electric truck space, with companies like Volvo and Daimler already selling their models, Tesla's offerings typically boast a greater range at a lower price. The company aims to produce 50,000 Semis annually; however, some analysts project only 5,000 to 15,000 units will be delivered in 2026, which poses a significant challenge.
Interest in the Tesla Semi remains high. In California, a program exists to incentivize businesses purchasing clean trucks. Between early 2025 and early 2026, there were 965 applications for Tesla Semis through this initiative, while all other companies combined received fewer than 100 applications, indicating strong preference for Tesla among shipping firms.
To further facilitate adoption, new companies like Alyath are offering innovative solutions. They've introduced a "Semi as a Service" program, allowing businesses to pay a monthly fee that encompasses the truck, charging stations, and electricity. This approach enables smaller enterprises to transition to electric trucking without depleting their financial resources.
Source
