Tesla Semi Fleet Factory Ramps Up Production

Tesla’s Semi electric trucks have been spotted in numbers coming out of its pilot factory for the first time, signaling a potential ramp-up in production. Despite entering production in late 2022, the Tesla Semi has had a limited presence on the roads. According to Electrek, the company has been operating a pilot factory next to Gigafactory Nevada with a capacity of 5 trucks per week, but production has been throttled down over the last two years.

Production Status

Tesla Semi officially entered production in late 2022, but output has remained limited so far. The company has been operating a pilot factory next to Gigafactory Nevada with an estimated capacity of 5 trucks per week, though actual production appears to have been lower.

Recent Sightings

A significant development occurred recently when 26 brand-new Tesla Semi trucks were spotted coming off the prototype production line. This suggests Tesla may be ramping up production or conducting new production test runs.

“I probably saw ~40 total today on both sides of the Milan prototype factory,” Zanegler said in a post on X. “In addition, I generally see several as I drive to my drone flight location. I see them on 180, USA Parkway, and Electric Ave. These are both Tesla production vehicles being used to transport product to Fremont or Engineering ones racking up miles for endurance testing, validation, and data-collection.”

Current Deployment

Tesla has primarily been using the Semi trucks in its own operations, particularly for transporting parts between Gigafactory Nevada and the Fremont factory. A few dozen units have been delivered to PepsiCo, while other companies like Martin Brower, Sysco, Walmart, and Costco have also received or tested units.

New Factory Construction

Tesla is currently building a new high-volume Semi factory adjacent to the existing Gigafactory Nevada. Construction appears to be progressing, with recent drone footage showing large steel deliveries to the site. This new facility is expected to significantly increase production capacity.

Production Timeline

According to Tesla’s Q1 2024 earnings call, the company is aiming for the first Semis to roll off the new production line in late 2025, with deliveries to external customers starting in early 2026. Once fully operational, the new factory is planned to produce 50,000 Semi trucks annually.

Potential Reasons for Recent Production Increase

The recent sighting of multiple new Semi trucks could be due to several factors:

1. Testing new production processes for the upcoming high-volume factory
2. Producing updated versions based on learnings from earlier batches
3. Preparing test vehicles for reservation holders ahead of fleet deliveries
4. Expanding Tesla’s own fleet for internal operations

Ongoing Development

Tesla continues to refine the Semi’s design and production process. The company is focusing on creating a “super cost-effective high volume production” process, incorporating learnings from its pilot fleet and PepsiCo’s fleet.

These recent developments suggest that Tesla is making progress towards its goal of large-scale Semi production, though full-scale manufacturing and widespread deliveries are still slated for late 2025 and beyond.

EVXL’s Take

The ramp-up in Tesla Semi production is a promising sign for the future of electric trucks. As Tesla continues to refine its processes and expand its production capabilities, we can expect to see more electric trucks on the roads, contributing to a greener future. For more on Tesla’s innovative strides in the EV market, check out our latest articles on Tesla.

Photos courtesy of Zanegler / X