Tesla opens pre-order books for the Semi

Those of us who were anxiously waiting for the Tesla Semi to go on sale may place pre-orders now, spending $20,000 with limited refund opportunities until the electric big rig ships in 2023.

Buyers are invited to make two payments, leading with $5,000 and following up with another $15,000. Proceeding like this ensures a priority delivery when the truck does ship, although Tesla remains silent about any specific production and launch dates. Interestingly enough, stopping at $5,000 lets you demand a refund later, while putting in $20,000 and canceling your order legally means you forfeiting the whole amount in favor of Tesla Inc.

The Semi will reach production in 2023 along with the Cybertruck and the Roadster, the company claims. Since all three have been delayed numerous times by now, there is no evidence pointing to the new estimation being any more trustworthy.

When the Semi does reach the market, it will likely be the fastest-accelerating heavy truck worldwide. The company claims it runs from zero to 60 miles per hour (97 km/h) in 5 seconds empty or in 20 seconds with the load maxed out at 80,000 pounds (36 metric tons). A single charge nets you between 300 and 500 miles of driving range (483 – 805 kilometers).

Tesla claimed last year that its Gigafactory production site in Nevada was virtually ready to begin assembly. The automaker had planned to piece together 5 trucks per week by the end of 2021, but never produced a single one. Prices are expected to start from $150,000 before options.