Tesla has confirmed a new batch of Tesla Semi deliveries, with its official Semi account saying today that “Chicago’s first 50 Semis” are on their way to the city.
It’s a rare data point. Tesla doesn’t disclose Semi deliveries, and it claims its new Nevada factory can build 50,000 of them a year.
The post, published on the @tesla_semi account on X at noon ET today, shows four Semis lined up at sunset under the caption “Hello Windy City.” Tesla didn’t name the customer.
Hello Windy City
Chicago’s first 50 Semis en route for delivery pic.twitter.com/75kig8yWsb
But the only 50-truck Semi order tied to Chicago belongs to HMD Trucking. The family-owned carrier was founded in Chicago in 1998, runs more than 650 trucks (almost all diesel), and ordered 50 Semis right after Tesla’s production event in September.
HMD took its first truck on November 2 and says it’s the first Tesla Semi registered in Illinois. COO Michael Mahler said Tesla “has been transparent with us regarding the capabilities of Semi every step of the way.”
The company ran a Semi for more than 4,000 miles over the summer and averaged 1.74 kWh per mile, right in line with Tesla’s 1.7 kWh/mile claim. The first trucks will mostly handle local runs around Chicago, and HMD is installing its own chargers there since Tesla’s Megacharger network is still concentrated along the I-5 and I-10 corridors in the West.
Owner Henry Malukas told MotorTrend the deal is worth about $15 million. That’s roughly $300,000 per truck, in line with the ~$290,000 Long Range pricing we reported when the first truck came off the high-volume line and a long way from the $180,000 Tesla advertised in 2017.
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