Tesla Opens Orders for $290,000 Semi as 500-Mile Range Undercuts Rivals
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · May 19
Tesla Opens Orders for $290,000 Semi as 500-Mile Range Undercuts Rivals
7 articles · Updated · The New York Times · May 19
Tesla has started taking orders for the Semi after years of delays, with the 500-mile version expected to cost about $290,000 and a 350-mile model also planned.
That pricing could reshape electric trucking because comparable heavy-duty models from Daimler, Volvo and others typically cost at least $400,000, while offering shorter range.
Range, weight and high upfront costs have kept electric trucks to only a sliver of heavy-truck sales, making the Semi a potential breakthrough for logistics and delivery fleets.
Demand already appears strong: California trucking firms have sought state subsidies for more than 1,200 Tesla Semis, exceeding all prior applications for other electric trucks since the incentive program began in 2019.
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Tesla Semi Debuts at $290,000: Competitive Pricing, Megacharger Expansion, and the Future of Electric Trucking
Overview
The Tesla Semi has officially entered a new market phase, with its 500-mile range version priced at $290,000—significantly lower than the 2024 average for other zero-emission Class 8 trucks. After limited production began in 2022 and years of testing, Tesla finally revealed its pricing in May 2026, breaking a long silence since the truck’s 2017 unveiling. Deliveries are set to start this year, and the aggressive pricing strategy positions the Semi as a strong competitor in the electric heavy-duty truck market, challenging industry norms and encouraging broader adoption.