Diesel Prices Are Soaring, and Tesla Is Finally Delivering Its SemiMotorBiscuitSaajan JogiaSun, September 27, 2026 at 10:00 AM UTCAdd us on GoogleTesla is finally moving its long-delayed Semi program into a new phase, with deliveries of its electric Class 8 truck set to begin as the trucking industry faces sharply higher diesel costs.Diesel prices have climbed dramatically in the U.S. According to CBS News, the national average was around $6.50 per gallon on September 25, just below the record $6.53 reached earlier in the week. The increase is putting pressure on businesses that depend on diesel-powered trucks, including transportation, agriculture, and construction.Against that backdrop, Tesla is preparing to deliver significantly more Semis to customers. The electric truck was originally announced almost nine years ago, with production initially expected in 2019. That timeline slipped considerably, and Tesla only began limited deliveries in 2022, with PepsiCo among the early customers. At the time, however, the Semi remained far from full-scale production. That is now changing, according to a report by CarBuzz.AdvertisementAdvertisementTesla held an event at its Nevada Gigafactory on September 24, where it announced that Semi deliveries would begin in earnest this week. The company has also officially declared that mass production is underway. Tesla has previously said the Nevada facility has the capacity to eventually produce as many as 50,000 Semis annually.Image Credit: TeslaReaching that figure will take time, but Tesla already has several major customers lined up. DHL, PepsiCo, and US Foods are among the companies that have ordered the electric truck. A group of major shipping companies has also placed an order for 2,500 electric Class 8 trucks, a figure that would nearly double the size of the existing U.S. electric Class 8 fleet.Tesla is offering the Semi in two configurations. The Standard Range model uses a 548-kWh battery and can travel 325 miles with a fully loaded trailer. The Long Range version features an 822-kWh battery and has a claimed range of 500 miles.AdvertisementAdvertisementCharging will also be central to the truck's operation. Tesla is deploying dedicated Megachargers capable of delivering up to 1.2 megawatts of charging power. The company says the system can recharge the Semi by 60% in 30 minutes.For now, only one of these charging stations is operating in California, although the network could expand as more Semis enter service.