by Key Updates of Tesla Semi
Shareholder Decisions and Tesla’s Plans
Tesla’s annual shareholder meeting was full of news. Over 75% of shareholders supported the approval of Elon Musk’s one trillion dollar compensation plan, which is divided into 12 stock portions that will be unlocked only if the company achieves a series of goals over the next decade. Musk also confirmed that serial production of the long-awaited CyberCab will begin in April of next year.
Also: Elon Musk’s one trillion dollar payout depends on a bet that could break Tesla
The Roadster 2 demonstration is now scheduled for the same month, and in Musk’s classic style, it wasn’t without a joke. He stated that it would happen on April Fool’s Day, partly because it “provides some deniability.” If the demonstration is delayed, he joked: “I could just say I was joking.”
Semi Truck Updates
The Semi is receiving a redesign and full-scale production next year after its initial reveal back in 2017. The updated Class 8 truck has received significant efficiency improvements, greater payload capacity, and a design clearly oriented towards Tesla’s autonomous ambitions.
Although the original Semi began limited production in 2022, this is a full-scale update with major ambitions and changes.
Efficiency and Performance Improvements
Efficiency is the most important news. Tesla states that energy consumption is reduced to 1.7 kWh per mile, which is 15% better than the current Semi. Combined with the 500-mile range, the updates make the new truck more competitive against counterparts from Daimler and Volvo.
Motor power remains at 800 kW, but Tesla reports that internal improvements such as cooling, software, and thermal routing provide more stable performance under load.
The Future of Fast Charging
Another key update is charging. The new Semi supports a peak power of 1.2 MW (1200 kW). This exceeds the current Megacharger power and allows for significantly reduced charging time when using compatible infrastructure. Payload capacity is also increased, although Tesla did not disclose by how much.
Visual and Aerodynamic Changes
Visually, the Tesla truck now resembles the rest of the family. It has received a new front LED light bar in the style of the Model Y, cleaner body surfaces, and a redesigned roof shape for improved aerodynamic flow. The black glass side panel has become narrower, the bumper is redesigned, and this continues to the wheel arches.
Read: Tesla’s Cybercab could become the accessible Model 2
Tesla describes all of this as the foundation for a future autonomous freight platform. Surprisingly, the brand and its CEO avoided reaffirming any specific timelines for Level 5 autonomous driving.
Cybercab Production Tempo
Elon Musk didn’t limit himself to just hints about the Cybercab; he also boasted about how it will be produced. According to him, the dedicated production line will operate with an incredible cycle time of less than 10 seconds, compared to the approximately one minute currently required to assemble a Model Y.
If this goal is achieved, Musk suggested it could translate to an annual output of up to five million Cybercabs, surpassing the production rate of almost any car on the road today. However, as with most of Musk’s forecasts, it’s worth taking everything said with a grain of skepticism.
Future Prospects
In any case, the next year will be turbulent for Tesla. From expanding Semi production to launching the Cybercab and potentially demonstrating the Roadster, there is much to anticipate, but also much that could go wrong.
These announcements demonstrate that Tesla continues to invest in innovation despite criticism and challenges. The success of these projects could significantly impact the electric and autonomous vehicle market, but implementing such ambitious plans always comes with risks. Particularly interesting is how the company will handle scaling production of several revolutionary products simultaneously.
