Over the years, Elon Musk's Tesla has earned a reputation for missing some of its biggest launch deadlines. The second-generation Roadster, the Cybertruck, Robotaxi, and Full Self-Driving (FSD) were all announced with ambitious timelines, only to face delays that stretched for years.
The Tesla Semi joined that list.
On November 16, 2017, Musk stepped onto a stage in Hawthorne, California, to unveil Tesla's first electric semi-truck. Days before the event, he promised it would "blow your mind clear out of your skull and into an alternate dimension."
That might have happened figuratively for fans. What happened in reality was a nearly nine-year wait. The truck was pushed back repeatedly due to critical battery cell shortages, global supply chain issues, and Tesla's strategic decision to prioritize high-volume passenger vehicles like the Model 3 and Model Y before ramping up Semi production.
Now, Tesla executives say Semi deliveries are finally set to begin. And funnily enough, this comes just days after Tesla finally set October 1 as the delivery date for the long-delayed Roadster Gen 2, another product that spent nearly nine years in development before reaching customers.
Ogbonda Chivumnovu
Tesla Semi production, range and price are taking shape
Tesla has now opened high-volume production of the Semi at its Sparks, Nevada factory. The long-range version offers an estimated 500 miles (805 km) of range on a full charge, while the standard version is rated for 325 miles (523 km). The factory is expected to produce up to 50,000 trucks annually.
Tesla hasn't officially announced pricing, but previous estimates from the International Council on Clean Transportation put the long-range Semi at around $290,000.
Tesla has already secured thousands of orders
The timing appears to be working in Tesla's favour.
An alliance of major shippers, including Microsoft and PepsiCo, has placed an order for 2,500 Tesla Semis. If fulfilled, it would nearly double the number of heavy-duty electric trucks currently operating on US roads.
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