Tesla Semi burns rubber and shows off snuff circle in new Giga Nevada sight
Back in November, PepsiCo CEO Ramon Laguarta noted that his company was expecting its first Tesla Semi deliveries in the fourth quarter. This came as a surprise to electric vehicle enthusiasts, as Tesla CEO Elon Musk noted during the annual shareholder meeting in 2021 that the Class 8 all-electric dumper would have volume production by 2023. But if recent observations in the Giga Nevada area are any indication, it looks to the fact that Semi is now in limited production – and Tesla is doing some interesting tests with its newly made trucks.
Semi’s new video, which was shared on YouTube by Tesla lawyer Sawyer Merritt, was shot last Friday near Gigafactory Nevada. The truck in the footage was allegedly produced in a production facility built near Tesla̵[ads1]7;s huge battery facility. While the Semi in the footage looked quite similar to the white-painted, updated prototypes that have been discovered several times this year, the new truck reportedly had no stickers from the Ministry of Transport, nor did it have manufacturer’s plates.
Observations of the Tesla Semi have been going on for a while, but what makes last Friday’s recording quite special was that it showed a clear tire crushing acceleration from the all-electric truck in class 8. The recordings were short and lasted only two and a half minutes, but it was enough to show how fast Semi really is when it accelerates at full speed. Admittedly, the Semi did not pull a trailer when it was taken on video, but it is still remarkable to see such a large all-electric vehicle drive like a sports car on the road.
Also quite interesting was Semi’s incredibly narrow turning radius. After driving the entire production facility near Giga Nevada, Semi simply took a U-turn to return. The vehicle then continued to show the snuff circle several times, and just like the acceleration, the turning radius of the Semi is quite remarkable. This bodes well for Semi’s maneuverability, which is likely to help it stand out from its more conventional, more traditional competitors.
If recent reports are accurate and Tesla Semi has actually entered limited production, it will indicate that the company may be working with some of its first customers as part of the work to refine and complete the Class 8 dumper. Given Laguarta’s CEO statements in November last year, PepsiCo may well be one of those first customers. PepsiCo has, after all, come up with hints about its upcoming Tesla Semi fleet lately. Earlier this year, the company noted that it expects to receive 15 units of Semi by the end of 2021. PepsiCo has also received permission for a Tesla Megacharger at the facility in Modesto, California.
Watch the Tesla Semi burn some rubber in the video below.
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