Image: Tesla
Tesla Semi is potentially one of the company’s most impactful products. So far, however, the electric truck has had limited number of customers as the company works towards bringing it to the heavy freight and logistics industry globally.
At its annual shareholders meeting, the company unveiled an updated design with several class-leading upgrades, and more details were released on X after the meeting.
The update features a sleeker chassis, updated headlights with a light bar similar to the current Model Y, Cybertruck, and the upcoming Cybercab Robotaxi.
It also has upgraded aerodynamics for better efficiency and increased payload capacity along with upgrades to charging.
It now has over 800 km of range and an 800 kW drivetrain with energy consumption as low as 1.06 kWh/km.
On the charging front, 1.2 MW ultra-fast charging will be on offer and the Semi will be able to use Tesla’s supercharging hardware to achieve those speeds.
Another key point the Tesla team shared is positioning the Semi for autonomous operations and zero-emission long-distance trucking. That’s likely to use the company’s in-house developed full-self-driving (FSD) technology, seen on its Robotaxi fleet.
This would help operators of these trucks in the future to have access to some of the most advanced trucking fleets, reducing stress and fatigue for drivers.
Tesla Semi first began deliveries as part of a trial with large food and beverage customer, the PepsiCo in the US.
After taking deliveries of the Tesla Semi in late 2022, PepsiCo announced in May 2024 that they had taken new deliveries of the all-electric truck, doubling its fleet to 50 operating out of its manufacturing and distribution facility in Fresno, California.
Over the last couple of years, there have been sighting of Tesla Semi being used by Walmart and retail store giant Costco. The upgraded Semi is expected to go into mass production in 2026.
Riz is the founder of carloop based in Melbourne, specialising in Australian EV data, insight reports and trends. He is a mechanical engineer who spent the first 7 years of his career building transport infrastructure before starting carloop. He has a passion for cars, particularly EVs and wants to help reduce transport emissions in Australia. He currently drives a red Tesla Model 3.
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Another day, another stock pumping press release from Tesla...
Is it now narrow enough for the relaxed Aussie road rules?
It doesn't look short enough for Europe.
Those laws were changed 2 years ago Sam.
I think it would be cool to extend the rear of the cabin into an RV. With 800km range that's almost Melbourne to Sydney and way Tesla going it could self drive most of the way whick could make it the safest truck on our roads.
Another headline looking for substance.
A 15% improvement in efficiency is impressive given how aerodynamic the vehicle already is.
It all sounds good, but then again Tesla marketing always does.
Tesla have been all promise and little delivery with electric trucks, with other companies like Volvo just getting on with it and achieving much better results and market penetration.