Electric Work Vehicles

Tesla Semi electric truck factory finally nears completion as mass production looms

Tesla is known for its passenger EVs, but it has also been working to launch one of its most impactful products to reduce transport emissions: the Tesla Semi electric truck.

Almost a decade after its first unveiling, the Tesla Semi is about to go into mass production, with the production with photos of the factory under construction showing its near completion.

Tesla Semi account on X shared: “Semi Factory nearing completion”.

That was in response to Ashlee V’s post, which shared pictures of inside the factory as well as two Semi trucks outside, featuring the latest design, parked next to Semi charging stations.

The factory, once completed, will be capable of producing 50,000 Semi trucks a year, a big step up from pilot production and customer trials seen so far.

Over the last couple of years, there have been sightings of the Tesla Semi being used by Walmart, retail store giant Costco and other operators.

The company aims to bring the mass-produced Semi to the global heavy freight and logistics industry.

Tesla Semi began delivering in the US in 2022 as part of a trial with a large food and beverage customer, PepsiCo.

After taking delivery of the Tesla Semi, PepsiCo announced in 2024 that it had received additional deliveries of the all-electric truck, doubling its fleet to 50, operating out of its manufacturing and distribution facility in California.

In 2025, the company unveiled an updated Semi design with several class-leading upgrades. This included improved range and charging specs.

Image: Tesla

The updated Semi also has upgraded aerodynamics for better efficiency and increased payload capacity, along with upgrades to charging.

It can now deliver over 800 km of range and an 800 kW drivetrain with energy consumption as low as 1.06 kWh/km. 

This has been proven by global logistics giant DHL, which saw similar consumption figures in its trials in the US.

For charging, 1.2 MW ultra-fast charging will be available, and the Semi will be able to use Tesla’s Semi supercharging hardware to achieve those speeds.

Tesla has also revealed that the latest iteration of the Semi is geared for autonomous operations and zero-emission long-distance trucking. 

Image: DHL

That’s likely to use the company’s in-house-developed full-self-driving (FSD) technology, seen in its Robotaxi fleet and the upcoming Cybercab.

That would help logistics and freight operators, such as DHL, PepsiCo, and others, gain access to some of the most advanced trucking fleets, reducing driver stress and fatigue.

We look forward to seeing more news on the mass production of the Tesla Semi at this factory in Nevada in the coming months, as this could be one of the most significant products to help decarbonise a key part of the transportation sector.

  • Tesla were part of the group that lobbied the government to relax the truck size here in Australia.
    If they wanted that specific width, it would seem that the Tesla Semi would be compatible with the new standard.
    Centre steering means no conversion required.
    I guess charging infrastructure would be the next tell to indicate that the Semi is on the way down under.
    Has Windrose installed any megacharging infrastructure (I'm not even sure of their max charging rate)?

  • Years behind schedule. Typical Musk style to over promise and under deliver.
    P.S. where is the promised Model 2 ?!? (which would have been a top seller).

      • I’ll believe it when I see it.

        Semi - first announced 2017, production allegedly starting 2019. Fail.
        Roadster 2 - first announced 2017, production allegedly starting 2020. No ETA on actual production. Fail.
        Cybertruck - first announced 2019, production allegedly starting 2021. First models (overpriced and under-spec’d compared to what was promised) released late 2023. Elon predicted 250k would be sold every year. Actual 2025 sales figures: about 17,000 - or just 7% of Elon’s prediction. Fail.

    • You still waiting on Toyota's solid state battery EV too huh?
      Or one of GMs 30 EV models by 2025?
      Or one of Ford's EVs that was going to crush Tesla, because they were going to use their massive manufacturing capacity and flood the market?
      Or an EV from Stellantis that said that 95% of their models in 2025 would have an electric version?
      But yeah, you can't trust Tesla's word!

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