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Tesla is beginning deliveries of its Semi electric truck to a new group of commercial customers. The milestone follows years of delays and limited fleet testing.
The first expanded Tesla Semi deliveries are leaving the company’s dedicated factory in Sparks, Nevada. Tesla inaugurated the facility Thursday and declared the start of high-volume production.
Tesla Semi Deliveries Reach More Fleet Customers
PepsiCo, DHL and US Foods were among the customers featured during Tesla’s factory event. Several trucks carrying corporate fleet logos appeared outside the facility.
Tesla did not disclose how many trucks it will deliver this week. The company also did not announce pricing or a detailed production schedule.
However, Tesla repeated its long-term goal of producing 50,000 Semis annually in Nevada. Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk said the waiting list was already significant, according to Reuters.
The company built its first truck on the new production line in April. Thursday’s event marked the broader commercial rollout from that facility.
Tesla previously delivered a limited number of Semis to PepsiCo beginning in December 2022. Those trucks provided operating data before the start of larger-scale production.
Electric Truck Offers Two Range Options
Tesla plans to offer the Semi in standard-range and long-range versions.
The standard model has an estimated range of 325 miles. The long-range version can travel an estimated 500 miles while loaded, according to Tesla.
Dan Priestley, Tesla’s director of Semi engineering, said fleet customers had validated the long-range truck’s performance. Tesla markets the vehicle for regional freight and long-haul operations.
The Tesla Semi website describes the vehicle as a Class 8 truck with lower operating and maintenance costs. The company says its expanding Megacharger network will support commercial fleets.
Megawatt-level charging remains a critical part of the rollout. Fleet operators need powerful charging stations at distribution centers and along major freight corridors.
WattEV, which ordered 370 Tesla Semis, plans charging stations at the Port of Oakland and in Fresno. The chargers could add about 300 miles of range in 30 minutes, FreightWaves reported.
Major Orders Build Demand
Tesla has attracted several large orders ahead of the factory launch.
WattEV expects its first 50 trucks in 2026. The full 370-truck deployment is scheduled for completion by the end of 2027.
Swedish freight technology company Einride has ordered 500 Semis. Tesla also secured a 2,500-truck order involving a coalition of cargo owners, including Microsoft and PepsiCo.
The coalition order is nearly twice the size of the existing U.S. fleet of electric Class 8 trucks, according to the nonprofit Catalyst Mobility.
Tesla has not provided firm delivery dates for every order. Production speed and charging infrastructure will help determine how quickly the vehicles enter service.
Semi Launch Follows Years of Delays
Tesla first revealed the Semi in 2017. At the time, the company expected production to begin in 2019.
Battery supply constraints and production challenges pushed the program back several years. Tesla continued developing the truck while operating a smaller pilot-production line.
The Nevada factory gives Tesla a dedicated facility for commercial truck manufacturing. The company has also said the Semi could eventually gain autonomous-driving features. Current trucks still require drivers.
The rollout brings another competitor into the growing electric heavy-truck market. Fleet operators will now evaluate the Semi’s range, reliability and operating costs under daily freight conditions.
Successful deliveries could expand electric trucking across major U.S. shipping routes. However, the pace will depend on production output and access to dependable charging.