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The first Semis are scheduled for manufacturing in Tesla's Nevada factory at the end of this year, after eight years of development and validation. Rival Daimler Truck is waiting to see how the eHGV compares with its critically acclaimed Mercedes-Benz eActros 600.
As Tesla inches closer to the start of volume production for its Semi early next year, industry leader Daimler Truck is keen to see whether the model can live up to its hype.
First revealed in 2017, the electric heavy goods vehicle (eHGV) came with such demanding specifications at the time that Bill Gates himself doubted back in 2020 that they were even feasible.
When it finally hits the market, the Semi will be the model with the longest development and validation time in Tesla’s range, after Musk missed his original 2019 launch date.
But recently, Tesla has been offering a glimpse into its Nevada factory, indicating confidence that it can move from field testing into what it calls “first truck builds” by the end of this year.
“We’d love to get our hands on a Tesla Semi, and really test it,” Daimler Truck finance chief Eva Scherer told reporters on Wednesday. “We haven’t been able to, it cannot be ordered yet.”
No first-mover advantage this time for Tesla
Tesla has enjoyed a first-mover advantage in the EV space for most of its existence.
But legacy truck companies, particularly in Europe, have already been quietly selling EVs for several years now.
Daimler isn’t the only manufacturer with a headstart on Tesla, either. Swedish rival Volvo Trucks said last month that it has already sold over 5,000 zero-emission electric vehicles.
But Tesla aims to surpass these volumes, with a Nevada factory designed to manufacture a peak output of 50,000 Semis annually. Depending on whether customers order a standard or long-range version, these vehicles will be capable of driving between 300 and 500 miles, or roughly 500 to 800 kilometers.
While Musk plans to use the first Semis built internally before rolling them out to North American customers, project lead Dan Priestley has said a European launch will follow soon thereafter.
Due to recent regulatory changes, the Semi will be street legal in Europe and compatible with local trailers, where it will compete with the Mercedes eActros 600 for demand.
So, once the Semi launches next year, expect Daimler to stress-test Tesla’s claims, such as a 1,700-kilometer drive completed in 24 hours.
“We keep hearing that it’s supposed to be next year,” Scherer said. “And yes, once it’s there, we’re interested to have a look.”