Photo: Tesla
The Tesla Semi was introduced in November 2017 and, though initially scheduled for a tentative delivery in 2019, it’s recently been pushed to 2021. Elon Musk would like that deadline to be kept, if possible.
CNBC has obtained an internal memo sent out by the CEO, urging to accelerate development on the electric truck in order to bring it to volume production. The language is clear, but the details are incredibly vague: Tesla needs to get moving on the Semi, but Musk doesn’t say how or when exactly it should happen.
“It’s time to go all out and bring the Tesla Semi to volume production. It’s been in limited production so far, which has allowed us to improve many aspects of the design,” Musk says in the memo. “Production of the battery and powertrain would take place at Giga Nevada, with most of the other work probably occurring in other states.”
“Jerome [Guillen, Tesla’s President of Automotive] and I are very excited to work with you to bring this amazing product to market!” Musk writes at the end.
For outsiders, this offers little information, other than the fact that the Semi is now a priority. The last time a Semi was spotted on public roads was in March this year in both Washington and Oregon, as it was presumably making it way back from Alaska, where it had been winter-tested.
Details on the Semi are still fuzzy: Tesla says there will be two range versions available, of 300 and 500 miles at maximum load. Each truck will come with a warranty for one million miles and will be able to run on two of its four independent motors. Enhanced Autopilot should come in handy for drivers, alerting them of potential hazards and applying the brakes. Battery size remains a large unknown, but Tesla did say an extra 400 miles of range could be added in as little as 30 minutes.
“It’s time to go all out and bring the Tesla Semi to volume production. It’s been in limited production so far, which has allowed us to improve many aspects of the design,” Musk says in the memo. “Production of the battery and powertrain would take place at Giga Nevada, with most of the other work probably occurring in other states.”
“Jerome [Guillen, Tesla’s President of Automotive] and I are very excited to work with you to bring this amazing product to market!” Musk writes at the end.
For outsiders, this offers little information, other than the fact that the Semi is now a priority. The last time a Semi was spotted on public roads was in March this year in both Washington and Oregon, as it was presumably making it way back from Alaska, where it had been winter-tested.
Details on the Semi are still fuzzy: Tesla says there will be two range versions available, of 300 and 500 miles at maximum load. Each truck will come with a warranty for one million miles and will be able to run on two of its four independent motors. Enhanced Autopilot should come in handy for drivers, alerting them of potential hazards and applying the brakes. Battery size remains a large unknown, but Tesla did say an extra 400 miles of range could be added in as little as 30 minutes.
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