Elon Musk unveiling Tesla’s new electric Semi truck and Roadster
Editor's Note: some pretty impressive specs on this semi. Very interesting development for the transport industry.
Last night, Tesla had a bit of a celebration for itself, unveiling its new Semi truck and (in a surprise) a second-generation Roadster. It was a typical Tesla event, full of twists, shocks, and plenty of smoke and mirrors. The soundtrack rocked, the starry-eyed fans lapped it up, and now you can watch the highlights in this supercut we made for you. You’re welcome.
The Semi was as foreboding and the Roadster was enticing. The fact that Musk paired the two together shows he hasn’t lost his flair as a showman, even with his company facing what’s probably its biggest challenge in its short existence.
Of course, the Model 3 loomed over it all. But it was easy to forget about all the snags and delays plaguing the production of Tesla’s first mass-market electric car, especially with Musk dropping phrases like “zero to 60 in 1.9 seconds” and “620-mile range.” These are just concept vehicles, really, but it’s Tesla, and nothing is really ever as it seems.
This is the Tesla Semi Truck
The Tesla Semi truck is a hulking and menacing hauler, with the presence of Darth Vader lurking from above when cast in the black hue, or more like an apparition in metallic silver-white. In other words: it’s exactly what we expect to see from Tesla, as it attempts to make a semi truck that lives up to the brand’s DNA of making the future seem cool.
I sat in the driver’s seat hours before the truck was revealed at Tesla’s Hawthorne, California facility on Thursday. Apart from the glass area and the two screens on either side, it feels as badass as any big truck. The center-mounted seat, however, does feel weird. I noticed several elements from the Model 3, including a turn signal and gear lever, but it had a different steering wheel since it doesn’t require an airbag.
