The electric automaker seems to have finally sorted out issues that prevented it from launching production of the battery-powered semi in 2019 as promised.
The drive axle assembly line is now complete, and the main conveyor is in its final commissioning-and-start-up phase. The new factory is located next to the Nevada Gigafactory and should start producing trucks by the end of the year, making only 5 per month for now.
In its top form, the Tesla Semi comes equipped with four electric motors and a next-gen battery array that should give it up to 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) of range. Other options vary from 480 to 800 km (300 – 500 miles). When empty, the Semi can launch 0-97 km/h (0-60 mph) in around five second, CEO Elon Musk claims.
Prices will start from approximately $150,000. As Musk said upon introducing the model back in 2017, it should cost less than any ICE truck to operate and ultimately pay off better.