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Comment by FireBeyond | Hacker News Reader

"We don't talk about the Tesla Semi".

> Preparation of Semi factory continues and is on track to begin production by end of 2025.

Okay. That's why you've delivered 36 of the 100 units that were scheduled for seven years ago (2017), and none since then, which is why PepsiCo, Sysco, UPS and Walmart have all since terminated their agreements.

But it's "on track". Sure.

Last time Musk tried to throw out an excuse for this, it wasn't production capacity, it was "battery availability". Meanwhile:

> In Q2, we produced over 50% more 4680 cells than in Q1 and continued to see cost improvements.

> Both Megapack and Powerwall achieved record deployment in Q2, resulting in 9.4 GWh of total storage deployments. Overall, the Energy business achieved record revenues and gross profit in Q2.

"We're breaking so many records in battery availability and production capacity, you guys! We just haven't been able to make any for the Semi in seven years."

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Many misleading statements here:

1. Semi is not dependent on 4680 batteries. And that's still a minority of the battery mix they use. 4680 form factor is still limited to Cybertruck and some Model Y production.

2. Semi has been in initial and testing production, only selling to customers close to the factories and engineers so they could service them quickly, learn and adapt new models.

3. More new Semi trucks have been recently delivered to Pepsi and internally to Tesla.

4. "On track" compared to previous released information from last few quarters.

Semi is still a small part of the business and not as prioritised as it takes a lot to develop a new program for big trucks when the company hasn't been in that niche before. At the same time they are developing various charging solutions with customers and on their routes before they rollout. Still learning from customers and drivers what is the best utilisation for these products.

I still don't get why they prioritised the cybertruck Vs the semi... Makes no sense at all. Markets are way different in size, I guess margins too. A shame really

Musk's ego

There's a bunch of douches who will buy the cyber truck no matter how bad it is. But semi customers require something fit for purpose.

It’s a mobile idol to Musk. When the Pharoah commands you to build his pyramid, you obey the Pharoah.

Don't believe everything you read on the internet, especially the places pushing an agenda. As a self-described non-douche (at least, I don't go around judging people simply for buying a particular model of car), the CT is actually quite a good vehicle. I've had mine for a few months now and really like it. Granted I don't use it much for "truck" stuff but it has been a fantastic family car and the attention it gets is incredible.

Low volume halo products make good testbeds. Stainless steel, 48V, etherloop, steer-by-wire. Better to "learn things" on fat margins and low volume than to jump the gun on Model 2 and Robotaxi and "learn things" on thin margins and high volume.

> Low volume halo products make good testbeds

Keep in mind that "low volume" product is already the best selling EV pickup in the US...

https://qz.com/tesla-cybertruck-ford-f150-lightning-electric...

Maybe because the Semi is not a viable product at all ?

This is a truck, that is 7 years after unveil and they still did not communicate the most important metrics for a truck, about it's weight and hauling capacity.

> Semi is not dependent on 4680 batteries

But they obviously have SOME capacity to make Semi batteries. But just... haven't?

> only selling to customers close to the factories and engineers so they could service them quickly, learn and adapt new models.

Weird that Musk said they had battery capacity issues, then, not this?

> More new Semi trucks have been recently delivered to Pepsi

Pepsi has said they've moved on. Tesla might have done so as a goodwill measure, who knows.

>PURCHASE, N.Y., May 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today PepsiCo Beverages North America (PBNA) announced the expansion of its electric-powered fleet across California. In the next several months, fifty Class 8 Tesla Semi trucks will operate out of its manufacturing and distribution facility in Fresno, Calif., and 75 Ford E-Transit electric vans will step-change the electrification of its equipment services fleet across the state. The electric vehicle deployment will help the company progress toward its ambitious pep+ (PepsiCo Positive) goal to reach net zero emissions by 2040.

https://www.pepsico.com/our-stories/press-release/pepsico-be...

Then that is new, certainly, and maybe they have reconciled. The date certainly matches and makes at least some of my information out of date.

> PepsiCo made initial payments for 100 Tesla Semis in 2017

> But according to the food-and-drinks maker and one of its executives with knowledge of the deal, PepsiCo was using only 36[1] of Teslas promised 100 electric trucks as of [April 2024].

So they're getting 14 more "in the next several months", it seems. And still are owed 50 more from a seven year old order? They're more patient than I, it seems.

https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/tesla-...

[1] This source (https://www.ccjdigital.com/alternative-power/article/1563524...) says there's only 21.

How does an agreement work like this between big companies? I assume Pepsi lawyers have must-be-delivered-by dates. Typically, would everyone just walk away from the deal? Tesla would owe penalties? Or is it such a small investment for Pepsi, nobody important cares about the deal?

> which is why PepsiCo, Sysco, UPS and Walmart have all since terminated their agreements.

Do you have a source for this? I googled it and saw nothing about this.

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