EVwire brief: The Tesla Semi is coming to Laredo, Texas, for a three-day public display at the inaugural Port Laredo Global Trade Summit. The all-electric Class 8 truck will be on show July 12-14 at the LISD Performing Arts Center.
City officials picked the venue deliberately, framing the summit as a showcase for where freight transportation is headed.
"As North America's largest inland port, Laredo is the ideal setting to showcase the future of freight transportation while bringing together industry leaders, policymakers, manufacturers, customs professionals, and logistics innovators to discuss what's next for global trade."
Tesla expects to produce 50,000 Tesla Semis annually at its factory near Giga Nevada.
Tesla unveiled the Semi back in 2017, though vehicle deliveries only started in late 2022. Mass production only started this year at the Semi Factory near Giga Nevada, which has a target capacity of 50,000 Semis annually.
The Port Laredo Global Trade Summit itself runs well past the Tesla Semi. Organizers have keynote speakers, executive panel discussions, binational policy talks, and industry certification workshops lined up, all built around international trade and logistics.
The Tesla Semi, with its silent and smooth operation, has proven popular among drivers.
Context:
Freight operators are already lining up for the Tesla Semi. Southern California logistics provider QX Logistix recently ordered 20 Tesla Semis to run out of Forum Mobility's Rancho Dominguez depot, the latest in a growing list of carriers committing to short-haul, depot-based routes.
The economics are shifting too. California fleets can now stack two state incentive programs on the Semi, cutting up to $240,000 off a single truck and bringing a Long Range model's out-the-door price near $50,000 for qualifying small operators.
With freight hubs like Laredo putting the truck front and center, more operators are getting a firsthand look at what's driving that momentum.
Source: Laredo Morning Times
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