In late 2017, Elon Musk revealed two of Tesla’s most ambitious projects: the 100% electric Semi truck, and the second-generation Roadster, which went from being a convertible two-seater to an Authentic 2 + 2 hypercar with Targa-type bodywork.
The Semi promised a maximum range of about 800 real kilometers per charge (an estimate that was later revised upwards) at a price similar to that of a diesel truck, while the Roadster displayed simply stratospheric performance: 0 to 60 miles per hour (0-96.6 km / h) in just 1.9 seconds, a top speed of over 400 km / h, and a range of around 1,000 km EPA thanks to its 200 kWh batteries.
Both models met their goal perfectly: At a time when Tesla was unable to achieve the expected production rates for the Model 3 due to a series of bottlenecks on its assembly line, the Semi and Roadster served to capture the interest of both the industry and customers, showing that the company had very ambitious plans that went far beyond Model 3.
At the time, it was announced that the Semi would go on sale in 2019, while the Roadster would do the same in 2020. However, over the years, Tesla has been revising its forecasts. Initially, the Semi will begin manufacturing this year in small quantities, with large-scale production starting in 2021. The Roadster, for its part, is not a priority project for Tesla, so its launch has not yet been finalized.
Even though both models are of less importance to the brand than the recently launched Model Y (an SUV that according to the forecasts of the company itself will exceed the combined sales of the Model S, Model X and Model 3, thus becoming the vehicle more popular in the range) and that the Cybertruck pick-up (scheduled for the end of 2021), everything seems to indicate that the company will shortly give new details about them.
Recently, a user of the social network Twitter openly asked Elon Musk about the status of the Semi and Roadster projects, to which the CEO of Tesla replied that an update on both models would be given this year. Will we know before the end of 2020 data such as the final autonomy of the Semi or the launch date of the Roadster? Possibly we will get out of doubts soon.
Sure, we can probably do an update later this year
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 25, 2020