Tesla’s long-awaited all-electric Semi is showing clear signs that it’s nearing prime time. Over the past few days, the Class 8 truck has resurfaced with a refreshed exterior design and, more importantly, a public demonstration of truly staggering charging performance—peaking at 1.2 megawatts.
Together, the updates point to a vehicle and charging ecosystem that are finally converging ahead of Tesla’s planned production ramp in 2026.
Refreshed Semi Spotted Near Giga Nevada
A newly updated Tesla Semi was recently spotted at a Megacharger installation near Giga Nevada, offering one of the clearest looks yet at the production-intent design. Captured via drone footage by longtime Semi watcher @HinrichsZane, the truck features several notable visual tweaks compared to earlier prototypes.
The front fascia now includes a full-width light bar, visually aligning the Semi with Tesla’s latest design language seen on vehicles like the Model Y and Cybercab. The side windows appear shorter, while a previously covered fairing area has been cleared—which Zane theorizes could potentially accommodate an additional camera. Tesla has also added diamond-plate traction strips on the steps, a small but practical upgrade for real-world commercial use.
Tesla Demonstrates 1.2 MW Charging
Alongside the refreshed design, Tesla released official footage showing the Semi charging at an eye-watering 1.2 megawatts (MW) on a Megacharger. Shared by the official Tesla Semi account on X, the video shows engineers monitoring the session as power output climbs past one megawatt, ultimately reaching 1,206 kilowatts (kW).
The milestone is critical for long-haul electric trucking. Tesla has long claimed the Semi can recover roughly 70% of its range in about 30 minutes—a target that simply isn’t possible without megawatt-class charging.
Tesla Semi program lead Dan Priestley later clarified that the test was not at Giga Nevada as seen in the video above, adding that chargers installed at the Semi factory are also capable of delivering 1.2 MW.
Tesla is targeting volume Semi production in 2026 after the completion of their dedicated factory in Nevada. Over the last few years the company has been working with partners like PepsiCo and others to refine the design and implement improvements, all of which should be rolling off the production line soon.
