Tesla Semi deliveries were announced to start on December 1st, as stated by Elon Musk. Due to various delays in the past, many predicted that it would not happen by 2022. However, on Tuesday Teslarati received information from EPA that Tesla Semi was certified to be manufactured on September 29th and it is valid till December 31, 2023.
In early October, Tesla CEO Elon Musk said Semi deliveries would begin on December 1. After the company has claimed this twice in the past two years, some may have been skeptical that the truck would actually arrive in 2022. However, the EPA granting the Semi a Certificate of Conformity means the vehicle can officially enter the stream of commerce, permission the company had not gained previously.
500 mile range & super fun to drive
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 6, 2022
Furthermore, it is also known that various Model S, Model X, and Model 3 trim levels had received Certificates of Conformity from the EPA for the 2023 model years. Certificates of Conformity are granted by the EPA when a vehicle is confirmed to be conforming to the agency’s emissions and fuel economy requirements. “Every class of heavy-duty engines/vehicles and nonroad engines introduced into commerce in the U. S. must have a Certificate of Conformity, and they are valid for only one model year of production,” the EPA said.
Production
Tesla had not previously applied for the Semi to be approved for a Certificate of Conformity based on the EPA’s list of approved heavy-duty vehicles. The EPA updates this list quarterly, and the Semi has never appeared on it. The EPA confirmed to Teslarati that the Semi would be added to the list of conforming heavy-duty vehicles in January 2023. Battery constraints, parts shortages, and other issues related to the supply chain kept this from happening.
Tesla has never gained a conformity certification from the EPA for the Semi, which is a significant indicator that the vehicle will begin deliveries soon. Even if Tesla does not deliver the vehicle to PepsiCo. on December 1 as previously said and PepsiCo. confirmed, the company can officially use the Semi on public roads and deliver it to clients. Evidently, the only reason Tesla would not deliver the vehicle to PepsiCo. on December 1 if the vehicle is not built or there is a delay in the vehicle making it to its destination. With the EPA permissions, Tesla can officially begin deliveries at any point. Tesla is expected to make the first deliveries of the Semi to PepsiCo. in Modesto and Sacramento, California facilities.