Tesla Brings Back Daniel Valadares to Lead Semi Program in Canada

Tesla has brought back one of the architects of its Canadian charging network to lead the arrival of the Tesla Semi in Canada. Daniel Valadares joined Tesla in September as Semi Programs – Business Development Lead for Canada, a role that puts him in charge of bringing the electric truck to the Canadian market.

From Supercharger builder to Semi lead

Valadares first joined Tesla in May 2016 as an Owner Advisor in Toronto, just as the Model X was launching. He moved to the charging team in 2017 and spent four years as Senior Technical Program Manager for Charging Infrastructure in Canada. During that time, he was responsible for more than 45 large-scale Supercharger projects accounting for roughly 1,000 Supercharger stalls across Eastern Canada — the backbone of Tesla's Canadian fast-charging network.

Valadares left Tesla in June 2024 for fleet electrification company 7Gen, where he served as Senior Director of Fleet Technologies & AI Enablement. His work there included commercial fleet charging projects from feasibility and design through installation and energization — experience directly applicable to the Semi program, which targets fleet operators.

"I'm thrilled to be back at Tesla, leading the Semi Program for Canada in my new role as the Canadian business development manager," Valadares posted on LinkedIn. He was also present at Tesla's Nevada Semi factory rollout event last week, calling it "proof" of the work behind bringing the truck to volume production.

Megacharger construction begins in B.C.

The hiring coincides with tangible infrastructure progress. Tesla's first Canadian Megachargers will start construction this month for R.R. Plett Trucking in Langley and Kamloops, British Columbia. The company has ordered 12 Tesla Semis with deliveries expected by June 2027. The Megawatt Charging System (MCS) units will be the first of their kind in Canada, delivering up to 1 MW of charging power specifically for Class 8 electric trucks.

Why the Semi matters for Canadian fleets

The Tesla Semi offers 500 miles (805 km) of range on a full charge and consumes less than 2 kWh per mile. For Canadian fleets running predictable routes — especially in the dense Toronto-Montreal corridor and B.C.'s Lower Mainland — the economics are compelling: electricity costs a fraction of diesel per kilometre, and maintenance is dramatically lower with no diesel engine, transmission, or aftertreatment system.

Walmart Canada has already increased its Tesla Semi order to 130 units, and other major fleets are evaluating the truck. Valadares's fleet electrification background at 7Gen positions him to navigate the commercial sales cycle, which involves depot charging design, utility upgrades, and total-cost-of-ownership modeling that differs fundamentally from consumer EV sales.

Canadian certification and timeline

Transport Canada certification for the Semi is the remaining gating item. Tesla has not publicly disclosed a Canadian on-sale date, but the combination of Megacharger construction starting, a dedicated Canadian business development lead in place, and volume production underway in Nevada suggests the program is moving from "if" to "when." Industry observers expect first Canadian deliveries in late 2027, aligned with the Plett Trucking timeline.

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