In the future you'll be able to request a vehicle that meets your needs
Volvo
The future of cars and transportation is electric and autonomous, with the trailblazing Tesla leading the charge. Under the visionary leadership of Elon Musk, Tesla's groundbreaking electric vehicles (EVs) and Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology have significantly influenced the shift toward sustainable and automated transportation solutions.
The Robotaxi Revolution: Ultra-Durable Electric Cars and Tesla's Ambitions
In the not-so-distant future, electric cars, including Tesla's models, are expected to achieve a staggering lifetime of over 1 million miles on a single motor and battery. This breakthrough will substantially reduce maintenance costs and prolong vehicle lifespans. Alongside the development of self-driving technologies, these ultra-durable electric cars will revolutionize the transportation industry, paving the way for affordable robotaxi services.
Elon Musk envisions a Tesla robotaxi, and it's been listed as "in development." The network would provide cost-effective and accessible transportation for everyone. With vehicles operating around the clock, the average individual will find using a Tesla robotaxi significantly more cost-effective than owning a car.
Full Self-Driving Technology: Impact on Cities and Lifestyles
Tesla's FSD technology will have profound implications for cities and lifestyles. As commutes become more comfortable and productive, people may be more willing to endure longer travel times, potentially leading to urban sprawl and a reimagining of residential areas.
Tesla's advancements in autonomous driving are reshaping the landscape of car ownership. The development of specialized vehicles, such as Tesla's robotaxi, will cater to a wide range of needs and preferences, diminishing traditional car ownership's appeal.
For instance, autonomous RVs could be used for extended family trips, while office-oriented taxis equipped with desks and monitors could offer mobile workspaces during commutes. This unprecedented flexibility in vehicle types, driven by Tesla's innovation, will redefine the concept of car ownership, making it less attractive for those who prioritize diversity and convenience.
The Ripple Effect: Changes in Home Design and Urban Planning
The widespread adoption of Tesla's electric and autonomous vehicles will also have a ripple effect on home design and urban planning. As car ownership decreases, the need for garages in residential homes may also decline. Architects and homebuilders will need to rethink traditional designs, potentially repurposing garage spaces for alternative uses or eliminating them.
Furthermore, Tesla's FSD technology will revolutionize urban planning, with the potential for reduced parking requirements, repurposing parking lots and structures, and reevaluating public transportation. This technology might also encourage people to travel more, increasing overall vehicle usage but potentially offsetting this by reducing the number of cars on the road due to shared mobility services.
Innovative Vehicle Concepts for an Array of Activities
Tesla has been working on adding more entertainment to the car to offer things to do while charging. However, that may just be the beginning. The future of transportation will witness the emergence of various vehicles designed explicitly for specific activities. From dining, chatting, and drinking with friends to playing games, sleeping, and watching movies, specialized autonomous vehicles will cater to many scenarios.
Autonomous vehicles will come in various shapes and sizes to let you accomplish tasks on the way to your destination
Volvo
Imagine a world where you can shower and get ready for work while commuting or host a mobile dinner party with friends. The possibilities are endless, further reducing the appeal of conventional car ownership and promoting a shift towards customizable, on-demand transportation services.
Navigating the Environmental and Social Implications
The widespread adoption of electric and autonomous vehicles, led by Tesla, will bring about significant environmental and social implications. As electric cars replace traditional combustion engines, greenhouse gas emissions will be reduced, helping to combat climate change and improve air quality. Additionally, the shift towards renewable energy sources for charging EVs will further contribute to a greener future.
Socially, the transition to autonomous vehicles may lead to reduced traffic accidents, as most accidents are caused by human error. This could save countless lives and reduce the economic burden associated with collisions. However, there will also be challenges to overcome, such as potential job displacement for professional drivers and the need for new infrastructure to support electric and autonomous vehicles.
Relaxation and productivity will be major features in future vehicles
Volvo
Regulatory and Ethical Considerations in a Transformative Era
As the future of transportation evolves, regulatory and ethical considerations will become increasingly important. Governments must develop comprehensive policies to facilitate the adoption of electric and autonomous vehicles, ensuring safety and managing potential disruptions in the job market.
Ethical considerations, such as responsibility in the event of an autonomous vehicle accident or the potential misuse of passenger data, must also be addressed. Collaboration between governments, vehicle manufacturers, and technology providers will be essential in navigating these complex issues and ensuring a smooth transition toward the future of transportation.
Embracing Tesla's Vision for the Future of Transportation
The future of cars, car ownership, and transportation, led by Tesla, promises to be a transformative journey. The shift towards ultra-durable electric cars, robotaxi services, and specialized vehicles will revolutionize how we travel, transforming our daily commutes and reducing the need for personal car ownership. Tesla's FSD technology will reshape cities and lifestyles, presenting both opportunities and challenges as we adapt to new paradigms in urban planning and daily life.
Embracing this future, guided by Tesla's vision, will require collaboration between stakeholders, thoughtful regulation, and a commitment to addressing environmental, social, and ethical concerns. As we continue down this path, the potential for a safer, greener, and more convenient transportation landscape becomes increasingly attainable, solidifying Tesla's position as a leader in the new era of mobility that will impact every aspect of our lives.
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Tesla’s Dan W Priestley attended the Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo in Anaheim, California, and provided an update on Tesla’s Semi truck program. The presentation covered several key developments on the status of Tesla’s Nevada Semi Factory, refinements to the Semi, and Tesla’s plans for charging and ramping production through 2026.
Let’s dig in and take a look at everything that was captured by the Out of Spec team at ACT Expo. The original video is embedded below if you’d like to watch it.
Semi Factory & Production Ramp
Priestley reaffirmed the timelines mentioned during Tesla’s Q4 2024 Earnings Call that Tesla will scale Semi production in 2026. To achieve this, Tesla has been actively building and expanding the Gigafactory Nevada site, specifically to support the production of the Tesla Semi. The dedicated Semi facility will have a targeted annual capacity of 50,000 Semi trucks.
Following the beginning of production, Tesla will utilize the initial trucks to integrate into its own logistics operations. This will serve as both a final real-world testing ground as well as an opportunity for Tesla to gather data internally. Tesla plans to begin subsequent customer deliveries throughout 2026 as the ramp-up continues.
Reuters also reported that Tesla is hiring over 1,000 new employees at the Semi Factory to begin the rapid ramping of the program.
Semi has already amassed 7.9 million miles with Tesla’s current testing and operational fleets, providing some real-world data and testing. Feedback for the truck has been exceptionally successful, with many drivers praising the Semi’s performance and comfort.
New Tesla Semi Features
Of course, it wouldn’t be a Tesla keynote without showing off some new things. The Semi will be available in 500-mile and 300-mile range configurations, now featuring updated mirror designs and a drop-down glass section to improve visibility and allow easier interaction with external elements—such as control panels at ports, for example.
New Electric Power Take-Off (e-PTO)
The Tesla Semi will also feature a new capability called Electric Power Take-Off, or e-PTO system. Similar to the PTO systems found on other vehicles, this will allow the Semi’s high-voltage battery to power auxiliary equipment at variable voltages. That includes being able to power things like climate-controlled reefer trailers, potentially replacing the noisy and polluting diesel generators traditionally used for this purpose.
Charging and Batteries
Out of Spec BITS/YouTube
Tesla is also working on an updated battery pack design for the final production design of the Semi. This new pack is designed to be more cost-effective to manufacture. The battery pack itself is slightly smaller than before, but the truck maintains the same level of range through efficiencies. Dan also confirmed during his keynote that the battery cells for the Semi will be sourced domestically inside the United States, helping to alleviate potential burdens due to tariffs.
On the charging front, Tesla is using MCS - the Megawatt Charging System - capable of 1.2MW - and designed specifically for Semi. The system uses the same V4 charging hardware found at Supercharger sites but focuses on that larger power output. Alongside a smaller physical footprint, Tesla will be able to configure these V4 cabinets for either dedicated Semi charging or for shared power scenarios with regular Superchargers. Tesla is also working on an integrated overnight charging product, but Tesla isn’t ready to talk about it yet.
46 Semi Charger Sites Coming
The 46 new MCS sites coming soon.
Out of Spec BITS/YouTube
Finally, Tesla has made substantial investments in a public charging network for the Semi. There are currently 46 sites in progress throughout the United States, and plans for significant expansion throughout 2026 and 2027. These sites are strategically located alongside major truck routes and within industrial areas to support long-haul and regional operations. Tesla is aiming to offer the lowest possible energy costs to operators to help incentivize adoption.
This was one of the best updates to the Tesla Semi we’ve received since its initial unveiling. It seems that the Semi will receive a big portion of Tesla’s attention in 2026, while Robotaxi and FSD Unsupervised take the stage this year.
The Tesla Semi has the potential to transform transportation even more dramatically than EVs already have, serving as a testament to Tesla’s mission to electrify the world.
Sentry Mode is an invaluable tool for owners - capable of keeping the vehicle safe and secure even when you’re not around. This is especially true in recent times, with the misguided and unfortunate incidents surrounding Tesla ownership, including damage to Tesla vehicles, showrooms, and Superchargers.
B-pillar Camera Recording and Dashcam Viewer
With the 2025 Spring Update on 2025.14, Tesla is expanding Sentry Mode’s functionality for certain vehicles with some much-needed changes. Sentry Mode and Dashcam can now record footage from the vehicle’s B-pillar cameras. These cameras are located on the side pillars of the vehicle, between the front and rear doors.
This adds two crucially needed viewpoints, making Tesla’s Sentry Mode a truly 360-degree security system. These cameras also provide the best angles for capturing license plates when parked, so they will be greatly appreciated by owners in the event of an incident.
These vehicles are also receiving an improved Dashcam Viewer, which now displays the six camera feeds along the bottom and a new grid view. It also allows users to jump back or forward in the video in 15-second increments.
However, to the disappointment of many owners, not all vehicles are receiving these updates due to the additional processing power needed.
Limited to Hardware 4 Vehicles, Ryzen Isn’t Enough
We have confirmed that Tesla is only adding the additional camera recording and improved Dashcam Viewer on hardware 4 (HW4 / AI4) vehicles. The newer hardware presumably has the additional processing power and bandwidth needed to handle recording and saving the two additional video streams during Sentry Mode and Dashcam.
For the time being, owners of HW3 vehicles are not receiving this feature. This includes all vehicles with HW3, even those with AMD Ryzen infotainment systems. If you’re not sure whether your vehicle has HW3 or HW4, you can refer to our FSD hardware guide.
While there’s no doubt that recording two additional camera streams would be more computationally intensive, we hope that Tesla adds the improved Dashcam Viewer to HW3 vehicles in a future update.
Cybertruck Also Missing Improved Sentry Mode
Surprisingly, and most confusing for many - is the fact that the Cybertruck is also not receiving the improved Dashcam Viewer and B-pillar camera recording with this update. This struck us as odd, especially since the Cybertruck is currently the only vehicle with the improved, more efficient version of Sentry Mode.
Every Cybertruck is equipped with HW4 and AMD Ryzen infotainment units, so this clearly isn’t a hardware restriction. It’s possible the more efficient Sentry Mode is playing a role here due to the infrastructure changes. However, we expect Tesla to address this in a future update and eventually release these features for the Cybertruck as well.
Given the Cybertruck’s high visibility and its status as a frequent target for both positive and negative attention, many owners hoped that the Cybertruck would be one of the vehicles to receive this feature.
Adaptive Headlights
Tesla finally started rolling out its adaptive headlights in North America. While the new Model Y already came with the feature when it was released last month, other vehicles with matrix headlights are now receiving the feature in the Spring Update.
All vehicles with matrix headlights are receiving this feature, which includes the new and old Model 3, first-gen Model Y, and the new Model S and Model X.
If you’re not sure if your vehicle includes matrix headlights, check out our guide. What’s interesting here is that older vehicles that were retrofitted with matrix headlights due to an accident or user replacement are also receiving the adaptive headlights feature.
Legacy Model S & Model X
As with most updates, the older legacy Model S and Model X are not receiving all the features included in this update. Unfortunately, some of the features, which include the Blind Spot Camera on the instrument cluster, Save Trunk Height Based on Location and Keep Accessory Power On are limited to the new Model S and X.
Legacy S and X models will receive the Alternative Trip Plans feature, Avoid Highways (Requires Intel MCU) and the Keyboard Languages feature.
These vehicles are also receiving all the features in the Minor Updates section except for the visualization showing how far the door is opened, which is exclusive to the Cybertruck. These additions include improved music search results, contact photos in the phone app, automatic connecting to hotspots, the ability to show third-party chargers, view Supercharger amenities, and various improvements to music services.
While many users will be disappointed not to receive the B-pillar camera recording and Dashcam Viewer improvements, it’s important to remember that Tesla typically does a great job at bringing features to older vehicles, at least with the Model 3 and Model Y. If a feature isn’t added, it’s usually due to a hardware limitation.
![Tesla Semi Keynote: New Features, 46 Charging Sites, Upgraded Battery & More [VIDEO]](https://www.notateslaapp.com/img/containers/article_images/semi/semi-new-features.jpg/c7df4e0d32f8cb0beee080ad201e943b/semi-new-features.jpg)
