After nine years of delays since its 2017 reveal, Tesla’s Class 8 electric truck finally has a dedicated factory. On Thursday night in Sparks, Nevada, the Semi moved from pilot builds to high-volume production.
Tesla announced that the Semi has entered high-volume production at its first dedicated Semi factory, a 1.8-million-square-foot plant in Sparks designed for 50,000 trucks per year. Every variant will be built on the same production line, including Standard, Long Range, and European spec models. The announcement came during the September 24 Semi Rollout event, which was livestreamed from the factory floor.
The factory introduces several manufacturing firsts. Tesla says the Semi is the first powder-coated Class 8 truck, while the plant uses the highest weight-capacity EMS conveyance in vehicle manufacturing, with 39 frames-in-white fully assembled at the same time. Unlike most truck plants that only handle assembly, Tesla produces stampings, batteries, drive axles, high-voltage distribution, cooling modules, and seats in house, saying vertical integration is the only real way to reduce costs.
Over the past four years, Tesla redesigned the Semi for true volume production. The move from 2170 to in-house 4680 cells reduces battery mass and allows the truck to use fewer kilowatt-hours without sacrificing range. A steel-caged rotor replaces carbon fiber in the drivetrain to lower costs and improve efficiency, while a bar-wound stator is shared with the Cybertruck.
The Semi is also the first heavy-duty truck with electric steering, removing the need for hydraulic compressors and fluids. Tesla says the system is lighter, quieter, more precise, and redundant by design, creating a foundation for future autonomy. A next-generation heat pump called Megamanifold manages cabin and powertrain heating and cooling together, with the system also used in the Cybercab.
Inside the cab, acoustic glass helps reduce noise, while drivers can stand up and benefit from visibility that a diesel truck cannot match. Tesla says the Semi requires almost no maintenance, with year-to-date uptime above 98 percent for 2026.
Using a Megacharger, the Semi can regain up to 60 percent of its range in 30 minutes, with chargers deployed along major freight routes. The launch follows a 2,500-truck order from Zet Scale, the largest US electric fleet deal yet. Deliveries are starting now, and Tesla plans to become its own customer.
In a pre-recorded video segment, Elon Musk described the Semi as a driver’s truck with sports-car-like acceleration. The milestone comes during a busy week for Musk’s companies, with SpaceX targeting September 28 for Starship Flight 14.
