Tesla Finally Launches High-Volume Semi Production With Massive 2,500-Truck Order

Tesla officially initiated high-volume production of the Semi at its Nevada factory. A shipping alliance including Microsoft and PepsiCo placed a record-setting order for 2,500 trucks to be delivered over the next 18 months. The long-range model will travel an estimated 500 miles per charge, eclipsing competitor advertised ranges of 155 to 430 miles. The company is rushing to scale its charging infrastructure, aiming to grow its network from two public megawatt chargers in Los Angeles to 30 locations by the end of the year. CEO Elon Musk is targeting a $20 trillion valuation for the automaker based on its broader transition into a robotics and autonomous vehicle company. "It’s going to be, really, a driver’s truck. It's like a sports car in truck form." — Elon Musk