Elon Musk stated during Tesla's second-quarter earnings call that the company expects self-driving technology to operate on the Tesla Semi by the end of 2026 or early 2027.
The comment came on July 22 when analyst Walter Piecyk asked about autonomy plans for the truck. Musk said there are not enough people who want to drive trucks and added that self-driving would improve safety and comfort for drivers using the Tesla Semi.
He noted that Tesla is focusing self-driving development on higher-volume models including the Model 3, Model Y, and Cybercab. Musk said Semi autonomy would take a backseat for the next six months.
Tesla unveiled the Semi in 2017 with promises of enhanced autopilot features. Production began years later than initially planned, with limited deliveries starting in late 2022.