Portuguese 
English 
Spanish 
3 min of reading 
0 comments 
Elon Musk Promises Mass Production of Tesla Semi Again After Bill Gates’ Criticism, but History of Delays Raises Questions About the Future of the Electric Truck
As soon as someone claims something is impossible, Elon Musk tries to prove the opposite. Electric trucks, like passenger cars, are seen as the next step in road freight transport.
Tesla has a big bet in this sector: the Semi. The battery-powered vehicle promises to perform the same work as a diesel truck. After years of waiting, Elon Musk has spoken about it again.
The CEO has resumed leadership of Tesla after a brief political foray. Now, he is directing the company’s efforts toward two fronts: autonomous driving technology and the Semi.
-
Peugeot publicly acknowledged the errors of the PureTech engine, which caused serious failures in hundreds of thousands of cars, and introduced the new Turbo 100 as a definitive solution, a 1.2 turbo tested for over 3 million kilometers that replaces the faulty belt with a more durable chain.
-
Automatic cars become ‘cheap’ in Brazil, and models from Toyota, Hyundai, Nissan, and Honda appear for R$ 65,000 with up to 120 hp, CVT transmission, 482 liters of trunk space, keyless entry, and six airbags to tackle traffic without a clutch.
-
Honda revives a classic from Brazilian streets with a new name, TFT panel, and reprogrammed engine in the 2027 lineup; see the first impressions of the CB500 Hornet, which arrives with 49.6 hp, 4.5 kgf.m torque, 6-speed gearbox, 175 kg, and Showa suspension on Brazilian streets.
-
Without relying on an outlet, without a cable, and without the gasoline engine driving the wheels: Nissan created the Note e-POWER, a hatchback that always runs on an electric motor while a combustion engine works only as a generator, delivering to Japan a type of “electric without recharging” that Brazil is almost unfamiliar with.
The truck has been in development for over a decade, but it has never been produced on a large scale. Despite numerous public appearances, the model has yet to reach the roads in significant numbers.
Promises and Constant Delays
Unfulfilled promises have accumulated criticism. The Semi should have been available for years, but only a few units have been manufactured.
These vehicles have traveled millions of kilometers in testing. Some companies use them daily, proving their practicality.
Even so, mass production remains the critical point that has not been achieved.
This history of delays has strengthened skepticism. The Tesla Roadster, announced repeatedly, still hasn’t arrived.
Autonomous driving, promised as a revolution, is also still on hold. Therefore, every new statement from Musk about the Semi raises doubts. Many wonder if it will be another broken promise.
Gates Joins the Discussion
The latest criticisms came from Bill Gates. The founder of Microsoft highlighted his disbelief in the viability of electric trucks.
He stated that, even with advancements in batteries, electrification will not be practical for heavy long-distance vehicles, cargo ships, and passenger planes. For Gates, electricity works for short distances but does not solve the challenges of heavy transportation.
This statement directly impacted the Semi. Gates argued that other solutions would need to be sought to meet global transportation demands.
His perspective reinforces doubts about Tesla’s truck, which has not yet reached the market in a concrete way.
Musk Promises Again
Musk was quick to respond. Using the social network X, he stated that mass production of the Tesla Semi will begin next year. However, this is not the first time the executive has made this promise.
The constant repetition creates an impression of uncertainty. Still, Musk maintains his defiant style and promises to deliver what many say is impossible.
If this time will be different, remains to be seen. In a few months, the market will know if the Semi will finally leave the factory or continue as an eternally promised project.
-
-
4 people reacted to this.