Tesla drops big hints ahead of Semi handover event

teslarati.com Sep 24, 2026

Tesla drops big hints ahead of Semi handover event

Curated by Shubham · TechCapsules · Sep 24, 2026

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

Tesla will inaugurate its dedicated Semi factory in Sparks, Nevada, tonight, with a livestreamed handover event. Drone footage captured a line of new‑generation Class 8 electric trucks bearing customer logos, confirming orders from PepsiCo, U.S. Foods, Einride, DHL, WattEV and others. PepsiCo, the program’s anchor customer since the first deliveries in December 2022, already operates dozens of Semis. Einride placed a 500‑unit order in August, the largest single commitment, with deployments slated for California, Texas, New Jersey, Illinois and Georgia. IMC Logistics added a 50‑truck order for California, while additional firms such as LTS, OK Produce and HMD appear on the lot, hinting at further sales. Tesla’s Semi program director Dan Priestley said the company aims to build “many thousands” of units this year, with external forecasts estimating 5,000‑15,000 deliveries in 2026, contingent on production ramp‑up at the 1.7‑million‑square‑foot plant adjacent to Gigafactory Nevada.

💡 Why It Matters

· The visible customer fleet signals Tesla’s transition from pilot deliveries to large‑scale commercial adoption, positioning the Semi as the largest electric truck contract in U.S.
· history.

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Tesla Driver Caught Asleep at 60 MPH With Full Self-Driving On

Police in Solano County, California, stopped a Tesla traveling at about 60 mph (97 kph) after a motorcycle officer observed the driver slumped and apparently asleep while the vehicle’s Full Self‑Driving (FSD) system was engaged. The officer pulled alongside the moving car, confirmed the driver’s condition, and issued a citation for unsafe speed. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) released video of the encounter, emphasizing that a sleeping driver’s safe speed is zero and that FSD is a Level 2 driver‑assistance feature, not a substitute for active supervision. The incident follows similar reports, including a May video of a Cybertruck driver dozing on Highway 101 and a March case in Vacaville where a sleeping driver was arrested on suspicion of DUI. The CHP continues to warn that drivers must remain alert even when using Tesla’s advanced assistance systems.

💡 The episode underscores the gap between consumer expectations of autonomous tech and the legal reality that human vigilance remains mandatory, prompting renewed scrutiny of how such features are marketed and regulated.

triblive.com · Sep 24

Golden Tesla ‘cybercabs’ appear in Pittsburgh

Tesla’s golden “cybercabs” have appeared on Pittsburgh roadways, though they cannot yet be hailed for service. The driverless taxis, typically lacking steering wheels, are currently operated by a human driver in the seat, classifying them as Level 2 vehicles under Pennsylvania law. PennDOT confirmed Tesla does not require certification for these vehicles, as they are not fully autonomous. The cabs, two‑seat models with butterfly doors, are already active in Texas and Florida and can be summoned via Tesla’s Robotaxi app. Waymo, a leader in robotaxis, is also testing fully autonomous vehicles in Pittsburgh, awaiting state approval to remove validation drivers.

💡 The appearance of Tesla’s cybercabs signals a tangible step toward commercial autonomous transportation in a major U.S. city, offering a real‑world testbed for regulatory frameworks and public acceptance.

aa.com.tr · Sep 23

Elon Musk hails China’s manufacturing strength, calls Shanghai Tesla plant ‘a gem’

Elon Musk praised China’s manufacturing prowess, calling Tesla’s Shanghai Gigafactory a “gem” during a CCTV Finance interview. He highlighted the plant’s excellent quality and efficiency, attributing its success to the talent and dedication of Chinese workers. The Shanghai facility, operational since 2019, has produced over 4.5 million vehicles, contributing more than 45 % of Tesla’s global output. In 2025, the plant sold roughly 852,000 vehicles wholesale and 626,000 retail, generating $20.96 billion in revenue—virtually unchanged from the prior year. Musk also urged visitors to explore Shanghai, Beijing, and Xi’an.

💡 Musk’s endorsement underscores China’s pivotal role in Tesla’s supply chain and global sales, reinforcing the country’s status as a critical hub for electric‑vehicle production.

teslarati.com · Sep 23

Tesla Optimus Gen 3 shows off a cleaner, factory-ready design in new…

Tesla’s third‑generation Optimus humanoid robot was revealed when design files were discovered inside an Android version of the company’s smartphone app. Community member @wholemars extracted the assets and posted renders of the new Gen 3 model next to the older Gen 2.5 prototype before deleting the post. The official “gen3” files show a redesign: matte black leg fairings replace exposed linkages, gold‑toned body panels are more contoured, and sealed joints protect bearings from debris. Hands retain 22 degrees of freedom but appear more refined. The leak follows Elon Musk’s March comment that Gen 3 was walking but not yet ready for public display, and it aligns with Tesla’s ongoing preparation of app interfaces and production lines targeting up to ten million units annually.

💡 The design confirms Tesla is moving from prototype to a production‑ready robot, positioning the company to lead the nascent commercial humanoid market.

teslarati.com · Sep 23

Tesla Semi lands the biggest electric truck deal in U.S. history

Tesla has secured the largest U.S. electric‑truck order ever, as the new shippers’ alliance ZET SCALE named the company its primary manufacturer for an initial purchase of 2,500 Class 8 electric trucks. The deal, selected through a competitive request‑for‑proposals that evaluated price, range, charging capability and production capacity, will almost double the nation’s electric heavy‑truck fleet. Secondary manufacturers Kenworth, RIDE and Volvo were also approved, though the split of the 2,500 units remains undisclosed. Financing will be provided by ZET Financial via fair‑market‑value leases, with deliveries slated for ten freight hubs across the country over the next few years. The order precedes the opening of Tesla’s new Nevada Semi factory, a 1.7 million‑square‑foot facility built to produce up to 50,000 trucks annually.

💡 Demonstrating lower cost per mile than diesel, the contract provides a tangible business case that could fast‑track large‑scale adoption of electric trucks across U.S. logistics networks.

cleantechnica.com · Sep 23

Tesla Racism Trial Launches

California’s Civil Rights Department filed a lawsuit accusing Tesla of allowing pervasive race discrimination at its Fremont assembly plant, and the case began trial on Monday in Oakland before Superior Court Judge Peter Borkon, scheduled to run until Oct. 30. The complaint, filed in 2022, alleges continuous harassment, racial slurs, graffiti, segregation of Black workers into low‑pay, undesirable jobs, and systemic pay and promotion disparities. Plaintiffs say management ignored or dismissed complaints rather than intervening. The trial will be bench‑only, with a judge delivering the verdict. Tesla also faces a separate EEOC suit alleging racial harassment and dozens of individual discrimination actions, making the Fremont case one of the most high‑profile employment bias litigations against a major U.S. corporation in years.

💡 The courtroom showdown forces Tesla to address entrenched bias, a move that could reshape its labor practices and alter its reputation among workers and investors.