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Tesla Details Production-Intent Semi With 13.5 Million Miles and 1,000-Pound Weight Cut

A new Jay Leno’s Garage tour spotlights engineering changes and fleet results that underpin Tesla’s planned 2026 volume ramp from its Reno facility.

Overview

  • Ted by program head Dan Priestley, Tesla says a few hundred Semis in commercial use have logged 13.5 million miles, with one truck around 440,000 miles.
  • The redesign trims roughly 1,000 pounds and improves aerodynamics about 7% to a Cd near 0.4, helping the 500‑mile version reach effective payload parity with diesel when paired with the federal EV weight allowance.
  • The Semi adopts Cybertruck-derived components, including a 48‑volt architecture, common cell type, shared power electronics, and beefed-up electric steering actuators; a dual‑axle powertrain disengages the torque axle at highway speeds for efficiency.
  • Tesla cites a million‑mile battery target and 1.2 MW charging that can recover about 60%—up to roughly 300 miles—in around 30 minutes, and the truck can power electric refrigeration units on trailers.
  • Tesla reports about 95% uptime with most breakdowns returned within 24 hours, says its Northern Nevada factory is standing up toward a 50,000‑units‑per‑year target in 2026, and has begun opening customer‑facing Megacharger sites with additional corridor locations planned with Pilot Travel Centers starting in 2026.