9 Years Late, The Tesla Semi Officially Hits The RoadAutoGuide.comAlbert GarciaFri, September 25, 2026 at 3:58 PM UTCAdd us on Google9 years late the tesla semi officially hits the roadNearly nine years after Elon Musk first unveiled the all-electric Class 8 big rig, Tesla has officially begun initial customer deliveries of its long-haul Semi.During a webcast event held at the automaker's manufacturing facility in Sparks, Nevada, company executives showcased production-spec trucks carrying the logos of launch partners including PepsiCo, DHL, and US Foods.While Tesla did not disclose vehicle pricing or current assembly figures during the presentation, executives reiterated long-term targets to scale output to 50,000 Semis per year-equivalent to roughly 1,000 units a week. The expansion is projected to add over 3,000 jobs to the Nevada facility. Some of those figures might be ambitious if the Cybertruck saga is anything to go on.AdvertisementAdvertisementMusk, who did not attend the live presentation in person, appeared via a pre-recorded video message to urge logistics operators to reserve units, noting that the order backlog remains substantial.Tesla Semi Truck: All The DetailsTesla Semi Truck: All The DetailsView Gallery23 photos500-Mile Real-World Range and Battery OptionsThe electric commercial truck will be offered in two primary configurations:Long-Range Variant: Rated for up to 500 miles of driving range on a single charge when fully loaded at an 82,000-pound Gross Combination Weight. Dan Priestley, Tesla's director of Semi truck engineering, noted on stage that the 500-mile figure represents real-world highway driving validated by fleet partners.Standard-Range Variant: Delivers an estimated 325 miles of range per charge.9 years late the tesla semi officially hits the road, Image DHLImage: DHLAdvertisementAdvertisementFirst revealed in 2017 with an initial target production date of 2019, the Semi faced multiple delays before entering limited pilot operations with PepsiCo in late 2022; since then, other Semis have been spotted with DHL, Costco, and Walmart branding. The first high-volume production trucks rolled off the line in April.According to Reuters, logistics coalition ZET SCALE recently placed an order for 2,500 Tesla Semis, marking one of the largest single commitments for electric Class 8 trucks in North America. That order follows an agreement by Swedish freight technology firm Einride AB to integrate 500 Tesla Semis into its shipping operations.Tesla is well positioned to leverage the Semi in the commercial freight sector as transport operators look to hedge against fluctuating diesel prices and satisfy corporate zero-emissions mandates.Become an AutoGuide insider. Get the latest from the automotive world first by subscribing to our newsletter.