Tesla starts taking orders for its Semi

Tesla starts taking orders for its Semi. The first deliveries may not arrive for a long time.

Tesla’s long-awaited Semi has just passed a major milestone on its long road to hitting our roads. According to CNET, the American automaker has begun taking orders for this large electric truck. You’ll still have to pay a $20,000 deposit, and Tesla hasn’t given a delivery window for the first units. In other words, production is still scheduled for the 2023 wave. However, things are moving forward. Now, after large orders from PepsiCo and Walmart, small businesses and individuals can place orders.

Tesla starts taking orders for its Semi

Semi was officially introduced in 2017 along with the second generation roadster. This car was supposed to make ordinary trucks forget about it with a maximum range of 800 km, a fast Megacharger and acceleration from 0 to 60 mph in 20 seconds with a gross weight of 36.3 tons. The base fare remains unchanged for now at $150,000, making it a potentially viable vehicle for businesses that need long-distance connectivity without the usual fuel costs or environmental impact.

First deliveries may not arrive for a long time

However, as with the new roadster, the launch did not go as planned. Tesla has delayed the Semi several times, most recently due to chip shortages and limited battery manufacturing capacity. At this stage, reservations are less about inevitable delivery and more about cash flow for Tesla, just like the Cybertruck installment (estimated at 1.3 million units in November 2021) will allow the manufacturer to generate billions of dollars in revenue when the car is ready. ready.

Either way, Tesla isn’t worried about waiting. Competitor Nikola has just ramped up production of its electric truck, and established brands like Freightliner have yet to make headway with their electric vehicles. Thus, Semi will appear in a fairly young market with its brand and technology as important advantages.