Tesla's Cybercab, Semi Production Delayed by 145% Tariff

Tesla's plans to transport components for its Cybercab electric taxi and Semi electric truck from China to the United States have been disrupted due to high tariffs imposed by U.S. President Trump on Chinese goods. This disruption could potentially delay the mass production of these highly anticipated vehicle models, which Musk has been promoting to investors as a significant innovation to drive Tesla's growth.

According to an insider, Tesla initially planned to absorb the additional costs resulting from the initial 34% tariff imposed by the Trump administration. However, when the tariff rate exceeded this level, the company was forced to halt its transportation plans. On April 9, Trump raised the tariff to 84%, and subsequently increased it further to 125%, resulting in a total tariff of 145% on Chinese exports to the U.S.

Originally, Tesla was scheduled to begin receiving components in the coming months, with the goal of initiating trial production for both vehicle models in October. The Cybercab was set to be manufactured at Tesla's Texas factory, while the Semi electric truck was to be produced at the Nevada factory, with full-scale production planned for 2026.

It remains unclear how long the disruption in transportation will last. Two sources revealed that over the past two years, Tesla has gradually increased the proportion of components sourced from U.S. factories in North America due to the potential for additional tariffs on Chinese goods.

Trump mentioned in a recent statement from the White House that he is considering adjusting the 25% tariff on automobiles and components from Mexico and Canada, which could increase the cost of each vehicle by thousands of dollars. He stated that automakers "need some time because they will be producing in the U.S."

Tesla is advancing its Cybercab robotaxi service, aiming to obtain operating permits from government agencies. The autonomous driving concept vehicle, unveiled in October last year, features a design without a steering wheel or pedals, with a promise to produce a dual-door model priced below $30,000 by 2026. Concurrently, the company plans to ramp up production of the Semi electric truck by 2026 to expedite deliveries to clients such as Pepsi.

This disruption highlights how Trump's tariff policies, aimed at promoting domestic manufacturing, have inadvertently affected his political ally Musk. The entrepreneur, who frequently advocates for free trade and opposes tariffs on social media platform X, has reportedly privately urged Trump to rescind global tariffs.

Tesla has also temporarily halted new orders for the Model S and Model X due to China's retaliatory 125% tariff on U.S. goods. The company is currently overseeing the reform of the U.S. administrative system, which has seen the reduction of thousands of government employees.