Tesla is investing US$3.6 billion (NZ$5.55 billion) to build two new factories in Nevada, including a facility to mass produce its all-electric Class 8 Semi truck.

The Semi is a fully electric combination truck that promises 800km of range and energy consumption of less than 3.2KWh per km. “Thank you to the Tesla team, our supply chain partners and the local community that has made accelerating the world’s transition to sustainable energy possible at Gigafactory Nevada,” the company said.

The other factory will produce batteries for the Tesla Cybertruck, as well as the Semi. Together, the plants will employ about 3000 people.

Tesla first announced the Semi truck in 2017, but production experienced numerous delays.

In December last year, the company delivered the first Semi trucks to PepsiCo subsidiary Frito-Lay in Modesto, California.

Tesla chief executive Elon Musk said the company will produce up to 50,000 Semi trucks per year.