Tesla (TSLA) has provided a significant update on its electric semitruck project, confirming that the Tesla Semi is on track for production-spec deliveries to customers by 2026. The company shared more details on the range and payload capacity of the EV truck during the Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo in Las Vegas.
Tesla executive Dan Priestley announced that the company is building a factory in Nevada that will be ramped up in 2026 for customer deliveries, with a target capacity of 50,000 units per year. Currently, the Tesla Semi is undergoing pilot testing with PepsiCo’s FritoLay division, with plans to add an additional 50 trucks to the fleet for the pilot program.
The Tesla Semi is expected to have a range of up to 500 miles with a 23,000-lb vehicle weight for the long-range version, while the standard-range truck will be capable of 300-mile trips with a 20,000-lb vehicle weight. In real-world testing with PepsiCo, the Tesla Semis have performed long-range runs of up to 520 miles with a gross vehicle weight including cargo of up to 82,000 lbs.
Overall, the Semi test fleet has accumulated 3.5 million test miles, with Tesla using the trucks to deliver batteries from Nevada to its main plant in Fremont. These updates come as Tesla focuses on its robotaxi program, plans to accelerate development of its low-cost Model 2 car, and makes cuts across the business, including in its Supercharger unit. Shareholders are also set to vote on CEO Elon Musk’s proposed pay package ahead of the annual meeting on June 13.