Amid all the noise about robotaxis, robots, and DOGE, Tesla is promising 2026 will a be an important one for its (literally) biggest product. Today at the Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo in Anaheim, California, it announced full scale production of the Tesla Semi will begin next year, with a handful of product changes, along with some key updates to its megawatt-capable DC fast chargers that’ll enable Semi-friendly public charging across seven states by 2027.
Semi-Changed Semi
Tesla says lessons learned in its existing pilot fleet of Semis are the key driver in many of the announced changes. The biggest as far as drivers are concerned will be new mirrors for better visibility and drop windows replacing the existing minivan-style pop-outs, said Tesla Semi Senior Manager Dan Priestley.
Fleets such as PepsiCo’s, meanwhile, will appreciate many of the other updates Tesla has made. A new battery pack with slightly less capacity than the existing Semi’s roughly 1 MW capacity is said to reduce weight and lower costs while still maintaining the Semi Standard Range and Semi Long Range’s 300- and 500-mile range ratings due to unspecified aerodynamic and efficiency improvements.
The new battery (which will continue to be sourced domestically) will be recharged via an industry-standard V-shaped Megawatt Charging System (MCS) port, which as per other EV big rigs, is located on the driver’s side of the Semi, just aft of the cab.
The other major change is an electric power take-off (EPTO) with 25 kW of peak capacity. Designed to power equipment in a vehicle’s trailer—such as a refrigerator for produce—the system replaces existing carbon-emitting alternatives. The EPTO is designed to integrate into the Semi’s electrical architecture to maximize efficiency and minimize any negative impact on range.
Priestley says the updated Semi is slated to go into production in 2026. The Reno, Nevada factory where it will be produced is nearing completion. By the end of the year, he says, it should have utilities and manufacturing equipment installed, allowing Tesla to produce up to 50,000 Semis per year.
Mega Charging
Keeping the lightly updated Semi juiced up will be a newly announced 1.2-MW charger. Sharing much of its hardware with Telsa’s V4 Superchargers, the new DC fast charging stations will have a smaller footprint than Tesla’s existing equipment while allowing for peak rates of up to 1.2 MW or power sharing among eight other EVs.
In addition to the charging infrastructure Tesla will help its customers install in their own yards, Tesla is building out a small network of 46 public MCS stations. Set to come online by 2027, the MCS stations will primarily be located along I-5 in California, the I-80 corridor from Reno, Nev. to California’s Bay Area, and the I-10 corridor from Austin, Texas through New Mexico and Arizona to Los Angeles, Calif, linking up to its I-5 line.
Tesla has major operations in Freemont, California; Reno, Nevada; and Austin, Texas; as well as facilities in Los Angeles.
According to a graphic shared during Priestley’s presentation, Tesla’s remaining MCS stations will be built in Georgia (four stations) and Illinois (two stations).
Tesla says that it’ll reserve the first batch of updated Semis for its own use, and, that it will encourage its suppliers to take electrify their fleets with them, too. After Tesla completes its own order, it says it will start deliveries to outside customers, targeting 2026.