Here's what you need to know:
- Tesla is making significant headway on full-scale Semi production at its dedicated factory in Nevada, next to the battery Gigafactory.
- Key Semi components like frames and roofs have been spotted on-site, indicating assembly prep is underway.
- This signals a move beyond pilot testing with early fleet customers like DHL and Frito-Lay.
- Volume production is expected to begin in 2026 (previously targeted for end of 2025).
Tesla continues to make significant progress towards full scale Semi production at its dedicated Nevada factory, which is located next to the automaker's longtime up and running battery Gigafactory.
To recap, earlier this spring we reported that Tesla is on track to begin volume production sometime in 2026. At this time last year, that target was the end of 2025.
[Related: Tesla announces major Semi factory progress]
Tesla Semi program manager Dan Priestley confirmed the factory has been completed and they are "now working on deploying the production lines."
Those production lines, of course, require parts. Thanks to Tesla Semi watcher Zanegler, we can now see critical build components like frames and roofs lined up outside the facility as they prepare to enter the assembly line.
Because Tesla lacks a media relations team, Clean Trucking is unable to reach out for comment regarding, in this case, a more precise full scale production start date and other related matters. We do know Tesla intends to churn out around 50,000 Semis annually.
However, the presence of these parts is a good sign Tesla is moving beyond Semi pilot testing for a few select major fleets, such as DHL and Frito-Lay. Both have been running Semis for several months. The latter filed a permit request late last month to build eight more Semi Megachargers at its Bakersfield, Calif. facility.
Tesla's first public Megacharger site, built specifically for Semis that require significantly more energy than passenger EVs, came online in February.
[Related: First Tesla Semi Megacharger station site revealed]
This site and future ones have Megawatt charging (MCS), an ultra-powerful charging system designed for heavy-duty, Class 8 battery-electric rigs like the Semi which require use of a direct current. A 1,000-mile range on a single charge is possible in a matter of minutes.
Production and pricing concerns
Alarm bells went off earlier this year, not long after President Trump's tariff war got underway, over concerns that must-have China-produced Semi components could force Tesla to raise prices.
The manufacturer initially planned to absorb the additional costs when Trump imposed a 34 percent tariff on Chinese goods. However, Tesla appeared to walk back on this pledge once the president increased tariffs on Chinese goods to 145 percent. The good news is that the U.S. and China have since settled on reciprocal tariff rates to of 10 percent. Tesla has not commented since but it appears Semi pricing, for now, will remain untouched.
Tesla originally priced the Semi at $150,000 and $180,000 for the 300- and 500-mile versions, respectively. A "Founder's Series Semi" kicked off at $200,000. Tesla is no longer accepting new reservations but this will change once the Nevada factory is fully up and running.
