Companies Left Waiting On Tesla Semis, Some Paid In 2017

Companies Left Waiting On Tesla Semis, Some Paid In 2017

Tesla's highly anticipated electric semi truck has been stuck in neutral. Unveiled in 2017 with a 2019 production target, the project has seen continuous delays.

Customers like Pepsi, who ordered years in advance, have only received a small portion of their trucks.

Out of 125 ordered, a mere 36 were delivered in 2022, a full three years behind schedule. Other major companies like UPS and FedEx are also facing the wait.

Tesla blames a lack of batteries for the production slowdown. They're currently using 100 electric semis internally, but claim there just aren't enough batteries to begin full-scale production. Elon Musk remains optimistic, suggesting 2024 will be the year the "battery problem" is solved.

In the meantime, companies looking for electric semis are going elsewhere. Freightliner's eCascadia has already been delivered to over 55 fleets, demonstrating a significant advantage in current availability.