First publicly demonstrated back in 2017, the Tesla Semi electric long-haul truck has become one of the company's "long-term projects." Truck production in Nevada is expected to become mass-market next year, and Tesla has decided to refresh their appearance by that time.
Formally, the Tesla Semi has been in production for some time, and several dozen units have been delivered to the company's customers at least, but they are still being assembled on a pilot line in Nevada in literally small quantities, while mass production will be launched next year at a facility being specially built for them in the same state.
At the annual shareholders' meeting, Tesla updated the design of the Semi trucks. According to company representatives, the updated vehicle will be more efficient in terms of energy consumption, although the presentation slide features the previous figure of 1.7 kWh per mile.
The range of 800 km for the higher modification also remains unchanged, as does the maximum power of the compatible charging station at 1.2 MW. The powertrain with an output of 800 kW will provide 1,088 hp in familiar automotive measurement units. The presentation also mentions the increased payload capacity of the Tesla Semi and the truck's readiness to operate in autopilot mode.
Classic side mirrors have been retained, but this is likely due to certification requirements for the American market. Among the updates in appearance, the new lighting in the style of the refreshed Model 3 stands out, along with a different bumper, reduced side window area, and the superstructure above the cab has a less sloped profile than the previous version of the Tesla Semi. This may negatively affect aerodynamics but will add practicality due to the increased usable volume, which is usually fully utilized in commercial vehicles.
Mass production of the updated Tesla Semi trucks is expected to be launched in Nevada in the second half of next year.
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