Tesla Semi delayed again

Launch of the all-electric prime mover pushed back in favour of Model 3 sedan production

Tesla boss Elon Musk has announced that the launch of the Tesla Semi has been postponed until November 16 as the company is: “Deep in production hell,” with regard to its Tesla Model 3 sedan.

Bloomberg has reported that the company has offered few explanations about the problems it’s having producing the car that starts at $US35,000, roughly half the cost of the least expensive Model S sedan. A delayed ramp-up risks the ire of some of the almost half a million reservation holders who started paying $US1000 deposits early last year.

Musk also said that he was prioritising aid to the hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico by delivering hundreds of the company’s batteries to the area where power has been cut to around 90 per cent of homes and businesses.

Last week we reported that photos of the Semi were leaked ahead of the launch. The release of the much-anticipated truck was originally slated for September but the company moved that to October, and the date has been reconfirmed as November 16.

However, in a message on Twitter on Friday, Elon Musk was talking up the Semi: “Semi specs are better than anything I’ve seen reported so far,” Musk tweeted. “Semi eng/design team work is aces, but other needs are greater right now.”

The California-based company delivered just 220 Model 3 sedans and produced 260 in the third quarter. It had planned to produce more than 1500.

Tesla Semi delayed again

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