Pepsico takes delivery of first Tesla Semi truck

Tesla has launched and handed over its first Class 8 battery-electric Semi truck to PepsiCo at its Gigafactory in Reno, Nevada, five years after the first prototype was unveiled with a claimed range of 800km. 

An initial low production run of 100 Semis is planned for 2023 and although no price has been announced – it had originally been quoted as equivalent to AU$268,000 – if Tesla’s passenger range is anything to go by, the cost will have increased dramatically compared with claims made at the reveal event. 

Tesla will be using its own Semi trucks for deliveries between its factories while it gears up for the 2000 pre-orders it says it has on its books.