Semi

The Tesla Semi is a Class-8 battery-electric heavy-duty truck (about 500 miles of range). It is in commercial fleet use, human-driven, not autonomous: PepsiCo has run a multi-site fleet since December 2022, with ArcBest and DHL pilots. Tesla announced $150,000 to $180,000 at the 2017 reveal but has not published confirmed current pricing, and its volume-production target (2026) has repeatedly slipped. Autonomy is a roadmap claim only; Tesla removed FSD/Autopilot references from Semi.

Readiness

Semi is shipping now at $150,000-$180,000 (manufacturer target), the 1 capability claim on file is all claimed-only with claimed, 4 verified deployments are on file, and 2 incidents are on record.

Availability

shipping-now

Shipping now.

see evidence →

Price honesty

manufacturer-target

One price on file: $150,000-$180,000 (manufacturer target).

see evidence →

Capability honesty

claimed-only

1 reviewed claim: claimed-only, claimed.

see evidence →

Real-world use

commercial

Maturity: commercial. 4 verified deployments in the registry.

see evidence →

Safety record

incidents-on-file

2 incidents on record across 4 verified deployments.

see evidence →

What it claims to do

• highway driving with FSD capabilitiesclaimed-only· claimedevidence ↗

Price

• $150,000-$180,000manufacturer target · Tesla Semi (announced pricing, 2017 reveal) ↗ · announced 2017-11-16

Real-world use

• California operated by Tesla2025-12-01
• California operated by Tesla2025-07-01
• California operated by Tesla2022-12-01
• Canada operated by Tesla2022-12-01

Safety record

• Tesla Semi involved in first fatal crash, killing 2 in Nevada2026-06-30
• First recorded Tesla Semi fatal crash kills two people in Nevada2026-06-28

Privacy

No privacy practices disclosed or on file for Semi.

Specs

notes

• Verified (electric-truck reality): A Class 8 battery-electric truck (325 + 500 mi variants), unveiled Nov 2017, first delivered to PepsiCo Dec 1 2022. PepsiCo runs a sustained multi-site fleet (Sacramento beverage + Modesto Frito-Lay); independent pilots with ArcBest/ABF and DHL (Dec 2025). All deployed units are HUMAN-DRIVEN.
• Stated-claim: Volume production targeted 2026 at the dedicated Giga Nevada Semi factory (~50k/yr capacity) - repeatedly slipped (2019 -> 2022 low-rate -> 2025 -> 2026). 2017 pricing of $150k (300mi) / $180k (500mi) is a stale projection. Production is still ramping (pilot/low-rate).
• Claimed / roadmap (NOT verified): Any autonomous/self-driving capability. The Semi is an electric truck, not an autonomous one: no enabled L4, no Tesla autonomy claim, FSD references removed from marketing. Recorded NOT wired to the tesla-fsd-bot brain (autonomy unverified).
• Tesla family: form_factor=truck; cohorts with autonomous-trucking AVs (Aurora, Kodiak, Bot Auto). Completes the Tesla physical-AI family alongside tesla-optimus, tesla-robotaxi, tesla-cybercab, and the tesla-fsd-bot brain - though the Semi's tie to FSD is roadmap, not realized.

range

325-mile and 500-mile range variants (~500 mi headline)

battery

822 kWh

autonomy

human-driven today; autonomy is a roadmap claim only (no enabled/verified L4; Tesla removed FSD/Autopilot references from Semi marketing)

weight_kg

10433

drivetrain

battery-electric; ~500 mi at 80,000 lb; Megacharger / 750kW charging

formFactor

truck (Class 8 battery-electric heavy-duty truck)

What's under the hood

• Runs on Tesla FSD-Botfoundation-model

Frequently asked questions

Is the Semi actually available for purchase?

Yes, shipping now.Source: Tesla — Optimus

What does the Semi cost?

Semi costs $150,000-$180,000 one-time (manufacturer target).Source: Tesla Semi (announced pricing, 2017 reveal)

Does the Semi really highway driving with fsd capabilities?

Claimed by Tesla; no verified demonstration on file.Sources: Tesla Semi Update 2026: Full Self Driving, https://cars.usnews.com/cars-trucks/advice/cars-that-are-almost-self-driving

Where is the Semi being used?

Semi is in use at: California operated by Tesla (2025-12-01), California operated by Tesla (2025-07-01), California operated by Tesla (2022-12-01), and Canada operated by Tesla (2022-12-01).Source: DHL Supply Chain accelerates sustainability with first Tesla Semi delivery (2025)

What's the Semi running on?

Semi runs on Tesla FSD-Bot (foundation-model, pilot maturity).

Is the Semi safe?

Incidents on record: 2 (2 fatality). See Tesla Semi involved in first fatal crash, killing 2 in Nevada.Source: Tesla Semi involved in first fatal crash, killing 2 in Nevada

How does the Semi handle privacy?

No privacy practices disclosed or on file for Semi.

Who makes the Semi?

Semi is made by Tesla, based in Austin, Texas, USA.Source: Tesla — Optimus

Video

Compare side by side

• Semi vs Kodiak RoboTruckby Kodiak AI · truck

Sources

1. Tesla Semi unveiled (Nov 2017; 500-mile range variant) · https://www.cnbc.com/2017/11/16/tesla-semi-truck-has-a-500-mile-range-ceo-elon-musk-reveals.html ↗
2. Tesla begins first Semi deliveries to PepsiCo (Dec 1 2022, Giga Nevada) · https://techcrunch.com/2022/12/01/tesla-reveals-long-awaited-semi-truck-and-begins-first-deliveries/ ↗
3. PepsiCo Tesla Semi fleet (Sacramento beverage + Modesto Frito-Lay; route ranges) · https://insideevs.com/news/661934/pepsico-fleet-tesla-semi-sacramento/ ↗
4. PepsiCo's first Tesla Semi DRIVER (human-driven; primary-customer confirmation) · https://www.pepsico.com/en/newsroom/stories/2023/go-behind-the-wheel-with-pepsicos-first-tesla-semi-driver ↗
5. ArcBest/ABF Tesla Semi pilot (4,494 mi; human-driven fleet trial) · https://www.ttnews.com/articles/tesla-semi-arcbest-pilot ↗
6. DHL Supply Chain takes first Tesla Semi (Dec 2025; customer base expanding) · https://electrek.co/2025/12/08/dhl-takes-tesla-semi-electric-truck/ ↗
7. Tesla Semi factory update: volume production targeted 2026 (~50k/yr capacity) · https://electrek.co/2025/04/28/tesla-gives-update-semi-factory-on-track-volume-production-2026/ ↗
8. Tesla Q1 2026 SEC 8-K (Semi production ramp at dedicated Nevada factory) · https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0001318605/000162828026026551/exhibit991.htm ↗
9. Tesla said nothing about Autopilot/FSD at Semi launch; refs removed (no L4 claim) · https://electrek.co/2022/12/03/tesla-semi-no-word-equipped-autopilot-full-self-driving/ ↗
10. Tesla Semi · https://www.tesla.com/semi ↗
11. Tesla — Optimus · https://www.tesla.com/we-robot ↗
12. Optimus (robot) — Wikipedia · https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optimus_(robot) ↗
13. Waymo halts freeway rides after robotaxis struggle in construction zones · https://techcrunch.com/2026/05/21/waymo-halts-freeway-rides-after-robotaxis-struggle-in-construction-zones/ ↗ · 2026-05-21T22:15:00.000Z
14. Tesla robotaxi Austin launch, expansion plans, NHTSA erratic-driving inquiry · https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tesla-robotaxi-austin-14-crashes-nhtsa/ ↗ · 2026-02-17
15. Tesla's two teleoperator-caused robotaxi crashes; 17 NHTSA incidents unredacted · https://techcrunch.com/2026/05/15/tesla-reveals-two-robotaxi-crashes-involving-teleoperators/ ↗ · 2026-05-15
16. Musk admits zero Optimus doing useful work; Fremont Model S/X line conversion to Optimus · https://electrek.co/2026/04/22/tesla-optimus-production-fremont-model-sx-line/ ↗ · 2026-04-22
17. Tesla robotaxi active fleet shrinking (34 total/20 unsupervised, May 2026); safety bottleneck · https://electrek.co/2026/05/26/tesla-robotaxi-fleet-shrinking-not-growing/ ↗ · 2026-05-26
18. Tesla robotaxi Dallas/Houston launch; fleet ~80 Austin; transparency/redaction record · https://electrek.co/2026/04/18/tesla-robotaxi-launches-dallas-houston-small-geofences/ ↗ · 2026-04-18
19. Waymo dominates autonomous vehicle registrations as Tesla trails behind · https://techcrunch.com/2026/05/28/waymo-dominates-texas-autonomous-vehicle-registrations-as-tesla-trails-behind/ ↗ · 2026-05-29T00:14:35.000Z
20. CPUC — passenger-transportation / AV program permits. Tesla holds a TCP (charter-party) permit for the CA Bay Area ride-hailing service; ~1,655 vehicles registered per CPUC TCP filings (reported late May 2026). · https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/regulatory-services/licensing/transportation-licensing-and-analysis-branch/autonomous-vehicle-programs/autonomous-vehicle-program-permits-issued ↗
21. Tesla's Texas robotaxi fleet is 42 vehicles (official TX DMV registration), dwarfed by Waymo's (May 28 2026) · https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-05-28/tesla-reveals-its-texas-robotaxi-fleet-is-dwarfed-by-waymo-s ↗
22. Tesla Semi Update 2026: Full Self Driving · https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AI3J1Qmub8 ↗
23. https://cars.usnews.com/cars-trucks/advice/cars-that-are-almost-self-driving ↗
24. DHL Supply Chain accelerates sustainability with first Tesla Semi delivery (2025) · https://www.dhl.com/us-en/home/press/press-archive/2025/dhl-supply-chain-accelerates-sustainability-with-first-tesla-semi-delivery.html ↗
25. DHL adds Tesla Semi to California fleet (Dec 2025) · https://www.truckingdive.com/news/dhl-supply-chain-tesla-semi-california-2025-plans-more/807321/ ↗
26. ArcBest touts results from its EV semi pilot (4,494 mi) · https://www.freightwaves.com/news/arcbest-touts-results-from-ev-semi-pilot ↗
27. PepsiCo using 36 Tesla Semis; Sacramento + Modesto split (Dec 2022) · https://www.cnbc.com/2022/12/16/pepsico-is-using-36-tesla-semis-in-its-fleet-and-is-upgrading-facilities-for-more-in-2023-exec-says.html ↗
28. 21 Sacramento trucks; $4.5M SMAQMD grant for 18; Megachargers · https://www.truckinginfo.com/news/pepsico-receives-tesla-semi-fleet ↗
29. PepsiCo +50 Tesla Semis -> ~86 total; Fresno (May 2024) · https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/38936949/tesla-semi-fleet-grows-as-pepsico-takes-delivery-of-another-50-ev-trucks ↗
30. Electrek: Tesla Semi first deliveries — PepsiCo, Walmart Canada, Dec 2022 · https://electrek.co/2022/12/01/tesla-semi-deliveries-pepsico-walmart-canada/ ↗
31. Reuters: Tesla begins Semi deliveries to PepsiCo, Walmart Canada, Dec 2022 · https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/tesla-starts-delivering-semi-truck-pepsi-2022-12-01/ ↗