Tesla's Semi truck to ramp up mass production by 2026
Tesla, the electric vehicle giant, is gearing up for the mass production of its highly anticipated electric semi-truck, the Tesla Semi, with production set to begin in January 2026. The Nevada Gigafactory will be the hub of this production, aiming to reach a capacity of 50,000 units annually [1][3][4][5].
The company is currently beta testing an improved new Semi model, incorporating lessons from pilot customers like PepsiCo [1][2]. Preparations for the factory and production line are on track to be completed by the end of 2025, with plans to start internal fleet deliveries first, followed by external customers in early 2026 [1][4].
When it comes to Europe, specific details on production or expansion plans remain scarce. Tesla has been focusing on establishing and scaling production capacity in Nevada, as well as expanding Semi charging infrastructure (Megachargers) primarily in the United States [3][4]. While Elon Musk hinted at Germany as a potential production location during a visit to Tesla's electric car factory in Brandenburg, concrete plans for European production or dedicated distribution centers have not been confirmed yet [6].
Feedback from drivers during the ArcBest test of the Tesla Semi has been positive, with drivers praising the comfort, safety, and ease of use of the vehicle [7]. The Semi handled challenging routes, such as the 7,200-meter climb over Donner Pass, without any issues and performed on par with a diesel truck [8].
Tesla claims that the consumption of the Tesla Semi is less than 2 kWh per mile, making it an incredibly energy-efficient vehicle [8]. During the ArcBest test, the energy efficiency of the Semi was 1.55 kWh per mile, outperforming PepsiCo's previously known experience of 1.7 kWh per mile [9].
The Tesla Semi offers customers the option to order batteries with a range of 300 miles or 500 miles (approximately 480 km or 800 km) [10]. Elon Musk has confirmed that the production of the Tesla Semi will be scaled up at the Nevada plant next year [11]. However, the exact date when Musk tweeted about the Semi's production is not specified in the text.
The Semi's powertrain consists of three motors, and the vehicle can be charged to 70% of its battery capacity in 30 minutes with the right technology [12][13]. Despite the positive feedback and promising numbers, concrete plans for the production of the Tesla Semi in Germany have not been confirmed yet.
Tesla is pushing for the Semi's market entry in Europe, with plans to ramp up production in the US first, followed by Europe in 2024 [14]. As we move towards 2026, more details about the Semi's European production and expansion plans are expected to emerge.
[1] https://www.tesla.com/semi [2] https://www.pepsico.com/news/press-releases/2022/pepsico-and-tesla-announce-expansion-of-partnership-to-accelerate-deployment-of-tesla-semi-trucks-in-pepsico-fleet [3] https://www.tesla.com/news/2022/tesla-gigafactory-berlin-brandenburg-groundbreaking [4] https://www.tesla.com/news/2022/tesla-gigafactory-berlin-brandenburg-update [5] https://www.tesla.com/news/2022/tesla-semi-production-update [6] https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/tesla-germany-factory-could-produce-semi-trucks-musk-says-2022-06-28/ [7] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-07-21/tesla-s-semi-truck-gets-a-test-drive-in-california-by-arcbest [8] https://www.tesla.com/semi [9] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-07-21/tesla-s-semi-truck-gets-a-test-drive-in-california-by-arcbest [10] https://www.tesla.com/semi [11] https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/tesla-germany-factory-could-produce-semi-trucks-musk-says-2022-06-28/ [12] https://www.tesla.com/semi [13] https://www.tesla.com/semi [14] https://www.tesla.com/news/2022/tesla-semi-production-update
