Tesla has once again pushed back the timeline for its long-awaited electric Semi truck, confirming that the vehicle won’t see full-scale production until the second half of 2026.
That’s nearly a decade after it was first announced in 2017, and it puts the company even further behind competitors who are already delivering electric big rigs by the thousands.
The latest update came during Tesla’s third-quarter 2025 earnings call.
Dan Priestley, head of the Semi program, said, “We’ve completed the building and are installing the equipment now. We’ll have larger builds towards the end of this year, and then our first online builds in the first part of next year, ramping into the Q2 timing, with real volume coming the back half of the year.”
But that timeline contradicts what Tesla told customers and investors earlier this year.
Back in April, Priestley dismissed reports of further delays and price hikes as based on “multiple incorrect conclusions.”
For most customers, the wait for the Tesla Semi has already stretched to seven or eight years.
Companies like UPS, DHL and Sysco placed their orders as far back as 2017, but only PepsiCo has received a limited batch of trucks, around 100 units total, deployed in pilot programs that have logged nearly five million miles.
Tesla initially claimed it would start production in 2019. Then came 2022, when a splashy event introduced the “production version” of the Semi.
Yet that only resulted in low-volume pilot runs at a Nevada facility.
In 2024, Tesla announced plans to finally build a dedicated Semi factory next to its in Nevada. Even then, the goal was to begin production by 2025, not 2026.
While Tesla Stalls, Competitors Surge
As Tesla’s electric truck keeps slipping, rivals are gaining ground fast, and in some cases, already dominating.
Volvo Trucks quietly delivered its 5,000th electric semi earlier this year. The company began commercial deliveries in 2019 and now operates in more than 50 countries.
Its customers have logged over 100 million real-world miles.
“It’s rewarding to see that transport companies continue to embrace the benefits with electric trucks in a wide range of transport segments,” said Roger Alm, president of Volvo Trucks.
“Volvo’s battery-electric trucks are available here and now.”
In 2024, Volvo held 47% of the European electric truck market and 40% in the U.S. and Canada. Tesla, by comparison, has delivered roughly 140 Semi units.
Mack Trucks is also entering the fray with its upcoming Pioneer EV. Set to launch in 2026, the Pioneer will offer over 300 miles of range and be powered by Proterra batteries made in the U.S.
It’s designed for regional haul and drayage operations, the same segments Tesla aims to target.
Mack hasn’t released charging specs yet, but its other electric trucks top out at 150 kW.
Tesla claims its Semi can take up to 750 kW using its proprietary Megacharger, delivering 70% of its range in 30 minutes.
However, few Megacharger stations exist, which limits practical use.
Unanswered Questions Around Price and Capability
Another big unknown is the Tesla Semi’s final price. At launch in 2017, the company advertised a price tag of $150,000 for the 300-mile version and $180,000 for 500 miles of range.
A “Founder’s Series” model was priced at $200,000. But customers now believe that the cost has ballooned to around $300,000 or more for the longer-range model.
And there are concerns that Tesla’s futuristic design might have overlooked practical trucking considerations.
Some industry watchers question the vehicle’s axle weight distribution, pointing out that diesel trucks balance their weight by placing fuel tanks and other heavy components in specific spots.
Tesla’s cab-forward design and walk-in layout could make that harder to achieve.
Even if Tesla gets the Semi into production in 2026, it faces an uphill battle.
Legacy truck makers already have the service networks, parts availability and industry relationships to support their commercial customers. Tesla does not.
The Clock Is Ticking
Elon Musk once promised Tesla would produce 50,000 Semis by 2024. That didn’t happen.
And while Tesla has a track record of overcoming slow starts, the company’s head start in electric trucking may already be gone.
By the time the Semi finally hits the road in large numbers, the market may have moved on without it.
Whether Tesla can still carve out a competitive position remains to be seen, but its rivals certainly aren’t waiting around.