Tesla’s long-awaited redesigned Semi truck has officially been spotted in the wild for the first time, offering the clearest real-world look yet at the next evolution of the all-electric Class 8 hauler. The sighting comes courtesy of Tesla Semi watcher @HinrichsZane, who shared exclusive footage of the refreshed Semi operating near Tesla’s Semi facilities in Nevada, calling it a “watershed event” for the program.
According to Zane, the truck was filmed near the west end of Giga Semi, where Tesla’s dedicated Semi factory is taking shape. The footage, which runs over 17 minutes, shows not only the redesigned Semi itself but also an operational Megacharger on site — a key piece of infrastructure needed to support Tesla’s commercial trucking ambitions. Zane says this marks the first confirmed public sighting of both the refreshed Semi and a live Megacharger at the facility. Take a look for yourself in the video below:
The redesigned Semi was first officially unveiled by Tesla back in November during the company’s annual shareholder meeting, where it debuted a sleeker look highlighted by a Model Y-style front light bar. The truck spotted this week appears to match that updated design, with several refinements visible compared to earlier prototypes.
Beyond aesthetics, the changes run much deeper. The redesigned Semi delivers roughly 15% better efficiency at around 1.7 kWh per mile, alongside increased payload capacity. Tesla is still targeting a 500-mile range, while peak charging speeds have jumped significantly thanks to the Megacharger system.
That charging story was reinforced separately by Tesla itself. The official @tesla_semi account today posted footage showing Tesla engineers hitting an eye-watering 1.2 MW (1,206 kW) charging speed on a Semi — an industry-leading figure that underscores why Megachargers are critical for high-utilization trucking fleets. In comparison, Tesla’s consumer V4 Superchargers max out at 350 kW.
Other reported updates include reduced side window coverage, anti-slip diamond traction strips on the side steps, improved under-the-skin components, and a platform designed with future autonomy in mind. Drive power is said to reach up to 800 kW, further improving performance under heavy loads.
The revamped Semi will rely on Tesla’s in-house 4680 battery cells and is expected to be produced at the new Semi factory near Gigafactory Nevada, which is targeting a capacity of up to 50,000 units per year once fully ramped. Volume production is expected to begin in the first half of 2026, with customer deliveries following shortly after.
With the first real-world sighting now behind us, Tesla’s Semi program appears to be entering a crucial new phase as we head into 2026.
