Tesla is set to restart shipments of key components from China to the United States by the end of the month, clearing a major hurdle for the production of its upcoming Cybercab and Semi truck models, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters.
The move follows a breakthrough in US-China trade relations after high-level talks in Geneva over the weekend resulted in a 90-day truce and a rollback of many tariffs and retaliatory measures. The agreement comes after months of rising tensions, during which President Donald Trump raised tariffs on Chinese imports to as high as 145%.
Tesla had previously paused plans to ship parts due to the steep tariff increases, risking delays to its high-profile vehicle rollouts. Monday’s trade truce appears to have reversed that course, though the source, who requested anonymity, cautioned that shifting political dynamics could still affect the timeline. Tesla has yet to publicly comment on the development.
The electric vehicle maker plans to begin trial production of both the Cybercab and the Semi in October, with full-scale manufacturing expected in 2026. The Cybercab will be produced at Tesla’s Texas facility, while the Semi will be assembled in Nevada. The company is also preparing to fulfill backlogged orders for the Semi, including from major customers like PepsiCo.
Tesla’s Cybercab is central to its future robotaxi ambitions. The steering wheel-free vehicle—priced under $30,000—is expected to power a fully autonomous ride-hailing network. Tesla unveiled the design last year and is working to secure regulatory approvals for deployment.
The trade conflict had added to Tesla’s production costs, particularly for importing equipment from China. Chief Financial Officer Vaibhav Taneja recently noted that the tariffs had slowed capital investments. While President Trump has defended the tariffs as a means to strengthen American manufacturing, Tesla CEO Elon Musk has continued to advocate for open trade and said he urged the president to reconsider the levies during Tesla’s Q1 earnings call.
