Big week for the Semi, and it happened on both sides of the planet. In California, IMC Logistics got its first Tesla Semi on the road, and Forum Mobility cut the ribbon on new megawatt chargers at the Port of Long Beach. In Normandy, around a hundred French haulers got their first look at the truck in person and immediately asked the one question nobody in Nevada ever has to answer: where's the bunk? Grab a coffee, because this one has range, rubber, red tape and a surprise flat tire.
IMC's First Tesla Semi Is Officially Rolling
IMC Logistics posted that its Semi has arrived and is already out hauling freight, calling it a milestone in a "blended approach" to sustainability. That's the right way to read it. This is the first truck of the 50-truck IMC order we covered in October, from a drayage carrier that also kept Nikola hydrogen trucks running. They're not betting the farm on one fuel, they're putting a new tool in the box.
Why it matters: orders are fun to read about, but a truck with a driver, a container and a route is where the real data starts. Expect IMC's experience, good or bad, to shape how other port carriers think about the Semi. Want the order list in one place? It's on our Tesla Semi orders and specs page.
Forum Mobility Plugs In at the Port of Long Beach
Two days later, on Nov. 5th, Forum Mobility held a ribbon-cutting at its FM Harbor depot in the Port of Long Beach gateway. The depot just added two v4 Megawatt Charging Standard (MCS) chargers, and a production Tesla Semi ran the first charging sessions. IMC was a partner on the project. According to Forum, it's the first slice of about 30 MW of MCS charging coming online over the next few months, and the company says it has reservations for more than 330 Tesla Semis from 25 carriers.
Forum's CEO, Matt LeDucq, said "they can fuel with electrons about 40% cheaper than diesel". That's Forum's claim, so treat it as a target until fleets publish their own bills. IMC's Jim Gillis called long-range electric trucks and ultra-fast charging "the next step in zero emission freight." For a port that's been buzzing about drayage for years, two stalls is a small number. It's also the point where "someday" turns into "Tuesday."
France Meets the Semi in Deauville
Now hop the Atlantic. On Nov. 3rd and 4th, the fifth Connect Trucks congress in Deauville gave the Tesla Semi its first official showing in France. Per French trade outlet Auto Infos, about a hundred carriers got to look at it and talk with the team from Tesla Semi-Truck France, led by Jean-William Dubal and Paulina Nava. Our earlier coverage of the Semi's European debut at IAA Hannover set the table. This was the first time regular fleet people got to poke around.
The Truck Showed Up Late, and It Wasn't the Truck's Fault
The Semi was held up for hours because the trailer hauling it from Germany picked up a double flat. Ironically, the electric tractor's own tires were fine. And because the truck isn't homologated yet, it can't legally drive on French roads, so this was a parked, look-but-don't-drive kind of party.
"Where's the Sleeper?"
That's what the carriers kept asking, and the honest answer is: there isn't one. The cab is minimal, with a center driving seat, two screens, a Model Y-style steering wheel and doors on both sides. Even the Long Range truck sold in the U.S. has no bunk, because North American demand isn't there. Dubal told the room a sleeper is something they can look at for Europe, and Tesla's team noted every comment. Fleet owners were blunt: one said a bunk is essential even for breaks, another worried the spartan interior might not feel homey to drivers who basically live in their trucks. If you want a feel for how the seat and screens work, check out our Tesla Semi cockpit breakdown and our up-close look in Nashville.
The Specs They Shared
Price Talk, an NDA and Some Raised Eyebrows
One hauler told Auto Infos that when they asked about price, they were told they could discuss it later after signing a confidentiality agreement. If you already own Teslas, that feels familiar. If you buy trucks the traditional way, with a dealer, a quote and a handshake, it feels like a plot twist. Because the Semi is built in Nevada, it also isn't eligible for some European subsidies, which makes price clarity even more important. Financing models could help here, like the one we covered in our Tesla Semi as-a-service story.
Europe's Megacharger Plan
For comparison, you can follow how it's going in the States on our Tesla Semi Megacharger map.
Quick Update on the Hayward Fire
A quick check-in on the I-880 fire we covered on what we know and don't know: as of today, no official cause has been announced and Tesla hasn't commented. CHP reported all lanes open around 3:30 a.m. Wednesday after roughly ten hours, and crews finished sooner than the 15 to 18 hours first estimated. The trailer was reportedly leased from Premier Trailer Leasing, and the truck's owner hasn't been identified. We'll update the original story if that changes.
The Take
Zoom out and it's a nice little snapshot of where the Semi is right now. In the U.S., it's a truck on the road, a megawatt plug at a port and a rising order book, all backed by the 50,000-a-year production plan. In Europe, it's a first handshake, with feedback focused on what isn't there yet: the bunk, the dealer network, the price tag and the subsidies. Those are good problems to have, and they're fixable. Meanwhile Einride's 500-truck order shows there's real appetite once the plug is in the ground.
Spot news we missed? contact@teslasemi.com or @mrjavierjose on X.
Cheers & Props to www.auto-infos.fr From France/Europe Great coverage ! Photo Credit(s) to Jeremy Lequatre-garat and the WHOLE Heavyweight Decision / JLG Team
Also Cheers & Props to Khari Burton Zero Emissions Vehicle Program Manager at IMC Logistic And the Whole TEAM @ IMC Logistic
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