Tesla is preparing to deliver the first electric Semi trucks to Pepsi in just over two weeks on December 1. We are expecting Tesla to hand over between 10 to 15 of the class 8 trucks, but according to Tesla board chair Robyn Denholm, the company is aiming to produce as many as 100 this year.
The Tesla Semi was first unveiled in 2017 and set to begin deliveries in 2019, but the program suffered through several delays due to battery cell supply constraints and a global pandemic.
Tesla shuts down orders for Semi, updates website with impressive specs ahead of first deliveries
Tesla then announced the Semi was going to be built at Giga Texas. That also hasn’t happened yet, but Tesla has been producing the Semi at a temporary production line at a new building just up the road from Giga Nevada since early October.
It sounds like production on the temporary line is going well and Tesla could produce up to 100 units this year. That is according to Denholm, who revealed the figure while testifying at CEO Elon Musk’s trial regarding his compensation package.
“Tesla, for example, might produce 100 semitrailer trucks this year, Ms. Denholm said, years behind schedule.” (via The Wall Street Journal)
With a goal of producing 100 Semi trucks, and only 10 to 15 units expected to be delivered to Pepsi, you might be wondering where the other 85 or so Semi trucks will go. Tesla will likely use them transport goods between its own factories.
Despite having only just started production, Tesla has high hopes for their Semi program and is aiming to build up to 50,000 units in 2024.
If they are able to achieve that target it would make Tesla one of the largest class 8 truck manufacturers in North America.
Tesla is holding a random draw for retail shareholders to attend Semi delivery event
Source: Electrek
