Tesla · Elon Musk · Donald Trump · China · CNBC Technology
Tesla poised to scale production of heavy-duty Semi trucks with opening of Nevada factory
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Tesla opened its first factory for high-volume production of the Semi, a heavy-duty electric truck, in Sparks, Nevada, on Thursday, as CEO Elon Musk aims to push into big rigs.
Key facts
- On Tuesday, industry coalition ZET SCALE said it "selected Tesla as its primary original equipment manufacturer" for an initial order of 2,500 Semi trucks, with the aim of ordering more than 10,000
- The company first unveiled its Semi in 2017, and started selling the trucks in limited quantities to early customers, including anchor client PepsiCo., in 2022
- Trucking firm Einride also recently said it agreed to order 500 Tesla Semi trucks for its fleet with some deployments planned this month
- According to ICCT, trucks and buses represent less than 10% of road vehicles globally yet account for nearly half of transport-related air pollution
Summary
The company first unveiled its Semi in 2017, and started selling the trucks in limited quantities to early customers, including anchor client PepsiCo., in 2022. Musk wasn't at the opening, but he showed up by video recording for the audience, and called the Semi a "breakthrough product for heavy shipping. "It's almost like a sports car in truck form," said Musk, who is attending a state dinner in Washington, D.C., with President Donald Trump and Chinese Leader Xi Jinping. The factory opening comes as Tesla's core business of electric vehicles faces increased competition across the globe, and as soaring diesel costs present a potential opening for a transition to EVs in commercial trucking.