Uber Freight, a subsidiary of the ride-hailing platform, said on Tuesday it has partnered with Tesla to deploy its Semi trucks and accelerate EV adoption across supply chains, making it more affordable for freight.
Instead of connecting passengers with drivers, Uber Freight connects shippers — businesses or individuals requiring the transportation of goods — with carriers, such as truck drivers or trucking companies that provide those services.
The ‘Dedicated EV Fleet Accelerator Program’ is designed to “make electric freight more affordable and accessible by addressing key adoption barriers,” according to the company.
By partnering with Tesla and Uber Freight, companies can lower upfront costs for the Tesla Semi and gain access to the service’s network of shippers demanding EV transport options.
Therefore, the Accelerator Program provides a “subsidized entry point into electrification” for fleets purchasing Tesla Semis through the program, which will be integrated “into Uber Freight’s dedicated solutions for shippers for a pre-determined period.”
Participating fleets can schedule dedicated sessions with Tesla to “review technical details and total cost of ownership assumptions specific to the fleets’ operational profile,” according to the EV maker.
With Tesla expanding its Semi Charger network, “Uber Freight is designing dedicated routes around available infrastructure to help fleets adopt EVs more practically.”
The collaboration between Tesla and Uber Freight comes with the subsidiary’s CEO Rebecca Tinucci, who previously supervised Tesla‘s charging systems.
Tinucci had the role of Senior Director for Charging Infrastructure from August 2022 to May 2024, where she was “responsible for managing Tesla‘s global, charging-related business units.”
Last month, Tesla‘s CEO Elon Musk reaffirmed the 2026 mass production target for the Semi truck.
“Tesla Semi will be in volume production next year,” he wrote on X.
Tesla has already started fitting out the assembly lines for high-volume Semi production, as the Elon Musk-led brand set the end of 2025 as the target for beginning operations.
Last October, Musk said on X that the “Tesla Semi will be available worldwide.”
“Compared to diesel, Tesla Semi trucks have a lot more acceleration, uphill power and computer-controlled safety features like jackknifing protection, so both more fun and safer to drive,” Tesla CEO said in a separate post a few weeks earlier.
The Nevada plant began undergoing expansion in early 2024 specifically to accommodate the manufacturing of the electric truck.
The company expects a production ramp up through 2026, reaching full production by the end of next year. The Giga Semi is set to manufacture around 50,000 units per year.
The Semi truck was unveiled in 2017 and launched in 2022 — three years after the expected timeline. The truck is powered by three independent motors on its rear axles.
The Semi claims a range between 300 and 500 km, with less than 2 kWh per mile (1.24 kWh per km) of energy consumption.
According to the EV maker, the truck can charge up to 70% in 30 minutes when using Tesla‘s Semi Chargers — which it plans to build across the U.S. until early 2027.
When the truck was unveiled, Tesla mentioned pricing around $150,000 to $180,000, depending on the range. However, the price was removed from their website.
The brand has already deployed Semi trucks to Pepsi, which ordered a fleet of 100 units back in 2017.
Despite having delivered the first units to the company, currently operating in the United States, Tesla‘s Semi production has stalled since then.
In late 2023, at the IAA Mobility event in Germany, Senior Manager of Semi Truck Engineering Dan Priestley stated that the Semi was being adapted for the European market.
According to the executive, the European launch is also expected in 2026.
