Tesla (TSLA.US) officially announces mass production and delivery of Semi electric trucks, reiterating annual production target of 50,000 units

According to Zhichong Finance APP, on September 25, Tesla (TSLA.US) announced the mass production and delivery of its Semi electric truck. Tesla executives previously stated at the Sparks factory in Nevada that deliveries to the first customers would begin this week, nearly nine years after CEO Elon Musk first unveiled this electric heavy-duty truck. The Semi is designed specifically for long-haul freight, expanding Tesla's reach from electric sedans and SUVs to the commercial freight sector, at a time when US diesel prices have reached record highs.

On Thursday evening local time, Tesla held a live online event at the factory. The company did not disclose the production plan or pricing for the Semi, but reiterated its plan to produce 50,000 Semis per year at the Nevada factory.

Musk did not attend the event. In a recorded video, he said: "If you haven't placed your order yet, I suggest ordering more, but the waiting list is already quite long."

Customers including PepsiCo, DHL, and US Foods were invited on stage, with Semi trucks bearing these company logos displayed outside the venue.

The Semi is designed for long-haul freight. The long-range version can travel 500 miles (about 805 kilometers) on a single charge while fully loaded. Dan Priestley, Tesla Semi Truck Program Director, stated: "This is 500 miles in real-world conditions, and our customers have validated this." The standard version has a range of 325 miles (about 523 kilometers).

The Semi was first unveiled in 2017, with initial plans for production in 2019. The first Semi finally rolled off the high-capacity production line in April, with mass production expected to start this year. However, in a letter to shareholders in July, Tesla stated that Semi production would start in 2026, removing the previous forecast for volume production this year.

At the end of 2022, Tesla began limited deliveries of the Semi to customers such as PepsiCo in the United States. Since then, project delays, intensified competition, and a reversal of US electric vehicle policies have raised concerns about demand in the market.

Nevertheless, the clean transportation non-profit Catalyst Mobility stated that Tesla received an order for 2,500 Semis this week from the world's largest alliance of freight companies, whose members include Microsoft and PepsiCo. The organization noted that this order size is nearly twice the scale of the current US class 8 electric truck fleet.

Last month, Swedish freight technology company Einride AB announced an agreement to add 500 Semis to its fleet.