Tesla to Reveal ‘Beast’ Semi-Truck in October, Elon Musk Says
Silicon Valley automaker Tesla is tentatively set to reveal its electric semi-truck in October, CEO Elon Musk said.
“Worth seeing this beast in person,” Musk said in a tweet. “It’s unreal.”
The event is currently set for Oct. 26 in the Los Angeles suburb of Hawthorne, about a month later than Musk had originally planned to reveal the vehicle.
Tesla’s plans could upend the freight hauling business, which some believe is poised for a shakeup with the prospect of self-driving trucks coming within the next decade.
Tesla Semi truck unveil & test ride tentatively scheduled for Oct 26th in Hawthorne. Worth seeing this beast in person. It's unreal. — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 13, 2017
It’s unclear whether the Tesla semi-truck will have self-driving capability, but it appears likely based on Musk’s vision for autonomous transportation.
Several other companies are already working on electric trucks. Columbus, Ind.-based Cummins recently introduced a concept truck called the Aeos, which would have driving range of about 100 miles per day.
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But Tesla’s entry “could be the biggest catalyst in trucking in decades and potentially set off separation between the technology leaders and the laggards among carriers, shippers, truck” makers “and suppliers,” Morgan Stanley analyst Ravi Shanker said Sept. 6 in a note to investors.
Tesla is likely to reveal a concept version of the truck and not a production model, Shanker said, although the company is believed to be testing a version on public roads.
Shanker projected 2020 for a release date.
