Tesla deliveries the first semi trucks to Pepsi Co
Tesla
The first Tesla Semis have been delivered, and so has the promise to adhere to the company’s mission: accelerate the advent of sustainable transportation. Yes, it took five years from the first peek at the Semi and three years longer than initially projected, but the Semi is set to change the trucking industry the same way the Model S, 3, X and Y changed the automotive industry.
While Tesla has been increasing the number of passenger vehicles it produces worldwide; these large trucks are not needed at the same level. The company states that 15 million passenger vehicles are sold in the U.S. every year, but only a couple hundred thousand big rigs. So why would Tesla put so much time and effort into something that doesn’t sell as many units?
Musk’s response, “it seems like a small percentage, but it (semi-trucks) is actually 20 percent of U.S. vehicle emissions. Because you’ve got a huge vehicle, and it’s being driven all the time.” Musk said, “Over a third of all the articulate emissions (are from semi-trucks). So, from a health standpoint, particularly in cities, this is a huge impact, like gigantic — that’s why we are doing it.”
The Semi is a Recruiting Tool for Truckers
Back in 2017, Elon Musk said he could drive a Tesla Semi. That was quite a statement, given that trucks this size usually come with anywhere from 10 to 18 gears. However, the CEO did just that five years later. He drove the newest member of the Tesla lineup to the event to deliver the Semi to Pepsi Co. Musk said, “It’s like driving a Tesla, literally.” That is because it’s built the same way with a single stalk to put the vehicle in drive, reverse, neutral or park. “It looks sick. I mean, you want to drive that! That thing looks like it came from the future… It’s fun. It looks awesome, there is a big shortage of drivers, so if you are a truck driver and want the most bad ass rig on the road - this is it.”
The Semi is known as the Beast
Senior Manager of Tesla’s Semi Engineering, Dan Priestley, explained why many people refer to the Semi as the beast. “(It has) three times the power than any diesel truck on the road right now. So you’ve got all the power you need to get the job done, but the other reason that it’s a beast is because it is efficient, you can go 500 miles on a single charge on one of these things. It’s the mix of those two - this is a game-changer. What’s awesome is both of those are enabled by our 1000-volt powertrain. This is the first vehicle we are doing with that.”
That max power combined with hyper-efficiency is due to a tri-motor power train system. One motor is for highway driving and will always be engaged, while the other two are for torque and acceleration. Those motors use the system straight out of the Model S Plaid powertrain. Priestly said, “These are clutched automatically. No driver input is needed. It is seamless.”
Musk commented on the Semi’s performance, “It looks crazy. It looks like an elephant moving like a cheetah.” He was also astonished at the size of the motor powering the Semi. It’s described as the size of a football, “I find it amazing that this enormous thing can be pulled by something that you can carry in your hands — it’s like, wow, that is power density.”
500-mile Range
The Semi has been tested in all conditions in the real world, in a lab and virtually. One of those real-world tests was proving the naysayers wrong by taking the Semi for a 500-mile drive, fully loaded, from Fremont to San Diego on just a single charge.
Elon Musk later revealed on Twitter that the Tesla Semi's current efficiency is about 1.7kWh/mile, but that there is a path for Tesla to make it even more efficient. It's not clear whether the additional efficiency could be achieved through software or if it would require hardware changes. The quoted 1.7kWh/mile efficiency is a pleasant surprise, as many were expecting the truck to have an efficiency of about 2kWh per mile.
V4 Superchargers
Speaking of charging, the new V4 Superchargers were also revealed. They produce 1 megawatt of energy and will be used for the Semi and the Cybertruck.
Tesla's Semi Delivery Event
Musk finished the event with this message: This is going to revolutionize the road, make the world a better place in a meaningful way.
With most vehicles moving on to Tesla’s 2025.14 Spring Update, we’re now taking a look at all the undocumented features that were discovered during Tesla’s 2025.8 update.
While these features tend to be smaller in nature, some of them are just as valuable as the features outlined in Tesla’s release notes in the vehicle.
This update includes changes such as improvements to maps, trip meters, and Rainbow Road. Let’s take a look at all the undocumented features in Tesla’s 2025.8 software update.
New Map Icons
Not a Tesla App
Icons on the map are being redesigned to be rounder and easier to see. They now feature a white border to make them pop out against a colorful background, which is especially better when using satellite views.
This feature started rolling out slowly but should now be available to everyone.
Trips & Odometer
Not a Tesla App
The Trips display has been improved to show more precise information, and a new metric has been added.
More Precision: The trip meters will now show values with a tenths place when they’re under a certain value. That means that the Current Drive and Since Last Charge trip meters will now show a fractional kWh and a mile. This is especially useful for Current Drive.
The Current Drive meter is automatically reset when your vehicle comes out of park so that it can track your current drive, while the Since Last Charge meter automatically resets after a charging session completes.
More Data: In addition to added precision, the Current Drive now features a new data point. kWh is now shown for the current drive, just like the other trip meters. Previously, the Current Drive showed minutes instead of kWh -- it now features both.
These changes affect the Trips widget in the Model 3, Model Y and Cybertruck. While the added precision is also added to all vehicles under Controls > Trips, the new kWh metric for the Current Drive is only displayed in the small widget.
Additional Tool Tips
Not a Tesla App
Tesla has added some additional tips to the screen that show up in certain cases. For example, if you’re playing audio over Bluetooth, Tesla will suggest that you use their built-in music apps instead of streaming through your phone.
Destination Charging
Not a Tesla App
Destination charging icons are now visible on the map when you have Points of Interest enabled. You can enable Points of Interest by tapping on the map and choosing the Points of Interest icon on the right side near the satellite imagery icon.
Some destination chargers may charge a fee, while others may be open to the public or exclusive to paying customers.
Navigation Improvements
Not a Tesla App
If you're using Tesla's navigation system with voice guidance enabled, the spoken directions will now stop immediately when you end the trip. Previously, the spoken directions would continue being played until the phrase was completed.
Improved Rainbow Road
Not a Tesla App
The rainbow road feature has been greatly improved in this update with FSD. Rainbow road, which can be enabled in the Toybox app, now changes the vehicle's path when on Autopilot from a blue path to a rainbow one.
Previously, Tesla had to overlay the blue path on top of the rainbow colors because rainbow road didn’t support all the features of the path, such as showing chevrons when slowing down rapidly.
With this update, the rainbow path now incorporates all the same features as the blue path when FSD is active.
In addition, if you start Rainbow Road by tapping the right stalk four times, audio will play. Unfortunately, the sound couldn’t be stopped until it was completed before, but with this update, you can now stop the audio by reducing the volume with the left scroll wheel.
Additional Transparency Effects
Not a Tesla App
On Intel vehicles, several modules didn't include a transparency effect. This was primarily due to Intel cars not using the blur effect since it could slow down the infotainment unit.
With this update, Tesla has enabled the transparency effect across a set of modules. Notably, this fixes the issue when using full-screen visualizations where the music player had transparency, but the navigation module on the right did not.
Transparency has also been added to other modules that are displayed over the map, such as the list of Superchargers, destinations, search results, and the ETA / End Trip module displayed at the bottom.
Note: Due to the lack of the blur effect on Intel due to performance reasons, these changes could make some text more difficult to read.
No Phone Key Graphic
Not a Tesla App
The graphic that's displayed in the vehicle when it doesn't detect a phone key has been updated. Tapping on the blue text at the bottom displays the old animation showing you where to tap a key card.
Bluetooth Player
Not a Tesla App
The Bluetooth app typically only displays the connected devices and a button to connect a new device. There was a lot of white space, since there wasn’t much other information to display.
With this update, Tesla is making it easier to jump to another source by displaying available music streaming services underneath the connected Bluetooth device.
Tapping a music service will jump to the selected service.
Service Mode Release Notes
@scotsrule08 on X
As with most Tesla updates, Tesla usually adds or improves Service Mode with additional features, making diagnosing and fixing problems easier. This update adds or improves the following items.
New HVAC Panel
A new HVAC panel is available to support HVAC system diagnosis. It adds the ability to determine the status of the HVAC actuators, HEPA filter, and blower motor.
Applies to: Cybertruck
HV Battery Panel Update - Moved State of Health (SOH) Routine
The State of Health (SOH) routine in the HV Battery panel has been moved to the Controls > Service tab, which does not require entering Service Mode or Service Mode Plus.
Applies to: 2021+ Model S, 2021+ Model X, Model 3, Model Y
Windows Panel Update - Rear Defrost Routine
The rear defrost component on the Windows panel has been updated to simplify diagnostics. The re-enable routine will now be visible all the time, but it can only be ran when a condition requiring its usage is detected.
Applies to: 2021+ Model S, 2021+ Model X, Model 3, Model Y
Seats Panel Update - Cabin Radar and Seat Sensor
The Seats panel has been updated to show whether the cabin radar and/or seat sensor is being used to detect occupants in the front seats.
The gateway configuration for the steering column motor type can now be updated on the Steering panel.
Applies to: Model 3, Model Y
Service Mode Update - Media Source Switches to Bluetooth
When entering Service Mode, the Media Source will now automatically switch to Bluetooth to prevent the vehicle from playing media using the customer's connected media accounts.
Applies to: Model S, Model X, Model 3, Model Y
Charging Panel Update - Charge Port ECU Reset Routine
The Charge Port Electronic Control Unit (ECU) reset routine, TEST-RESET_CP, has been added to the Charging panel, which may be required after performing Charge Port related service.
Applies to: Model 3, Model Y, Palladium S, Palladium X, Cybertruck
Noise Recording Panel Update - Moved to Tools
The Noise Recording panel has been moved from the the High Voltage panel to the Tools panel. To access the panel, tap Tools > Noise Recording.
Applies to: Cybertruck
Coolant Panel Update - Coolant Purge Status Indicator
An indicator has been added to the Coolant panel to report the status of the coolant purge and whether the coolant purge needs to rerun.
Applies to: Cybertruck
Next Update
Tesla’s next update is the 2025.14 Spring Update, which has now rolled out to more than half of the Tesla fleet. If you’re still waiting for it, rest assured that you should be updated soon. If you’ve already updated, be sure to check out the undocumented features already found in the 2025.14 update.
Tesla has issued a strong denial in response to a Wall Street Journal report (Paywall) which claimed that Tesla’s Board of Directors had initiated a search for a new CEO.
In a statement posted directly on Tesla’s X account, Board Chair Robyn Denholm denied the report unequivocally. As per the statement, Tesla’s board did not reach out to recruiting firms in search of a new CEO.
Earlier today, there was a media report erroneously claiming that the Tesla Board had contacted recruitment firms to initiate a CEO search at the company.
This is absolutely false (and this was communicated to the media before the report was published).
The statement reaffirmed the board’s position on Tesla’s current leadership and that the board is highly confident in Elon’s ability to continue executing Tesla’s plans and future growth.
This confidence behind Elon follows his recent statements made during the Q1 2025 Earnings Call that he would be stepping back from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in the coming days and significantly reducing time spent there. Instead, he would be returning to focus on Tesla’s operations and the upcoming deployment of Robotaxi.
Shortly after the denial was posted, Elon Musk also commented on the report, specifically tagging the Wall Street Journal and criticizing their handling of the report.
It is an EXTREMELY BAD BREACH OF ETHICS that the @WSJ would publish a DELIBERATELY FALSE ARTICLE and fail to include an unequivocal denial beforehand by the Tesla board of directors! https://t.co/9xdypLGg3c
We’re glad to see Tesla and Elon set the matter straight, but there could have been a better way to spread this message and maybe even prevent the report from WSJ from going out.
We recently published an opinion piece on why Tesla needs its PR team back, and this specific incident is a good example. Relying solely on platforms like X for critical corporate communications - and in this case, late at night (1 AM EST), with limited reach outside the existing follower base seems like an ineffective way of communicating important company information.
We’d love to see Tesla really put some thought into managing its image, as it seems that several recent reports from major financial news organizations have apparently been wrong.
Either way, the board’s stance is clear - there is no active search underway, and Elon has the full backing and support of the board to lead Tesla toward the future.
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