Late-night talk show host Jay Leno has been known to feature Tesla’s vehicles on his YouTube channel in the past, and this week, he shared a new video in which he drives the Tesla Semi as it hauls an additional Semi. In addition to the drive, the video shows Leno talking to two of Tesla’s key employees on the Semi project, highlighting several exciting details about the electric truck.
On Monday, Leno shared the new episode on his YouTube channel Jay Leno’s Garage, during which he hauls a Tesla Semi with another Tesla Semi. He also talks to Tesla’s Chief Designer Franz von Holzhausen and Senior Manager of Semi Engineering Dan Priestley about the Semi’s design and some design elements behind the truck’s creation.
The nearly 43-minute video spans a broad range of topics, notably including that the Semi offers up to 1,500 horsepower and uses the same drive inverter as the Cybertruck. Additionally, Priestley explains that the idea for an electric Semi came from former executive and current board member J.B. Straubel, who said that Tesla shouldn’t be shipping EVs with diesel trucks.
About 20 minutes into the discussion, Leno hops into the Semi’s cab with Priestley and von Holzhausen to continue the conversation. After a few minutes, von Holzhausen leaves, and Priestley and Leno head out without a trailer attached.
After a short drive, Priestley and Leno attach a trailer with the second Semi to the back, giving the two a stark comparison point to show exactly how it feels to drive while hauling. Throughout the drive, Leno notes how smooth and quick the Semi feels compared to other large trucks.
Priestley goes on to talk about several themes related to the Semi’s design, including Tesla’s hopes to woo younger truck drivers with the vehicle. He also says a main goal of Tesla’s was to increase safety by making the Semi powerful enough to keep up with traffic easily compared to normal semi-trucks. Priestley also notes that the Semi has roughly the same turn radius as a Model 3 or Model Y, with Leno demonstrating as the two perform a full U-turn at an intersection.
You can watch the full video from Jay Leno’s garage below.
In the past, Leno has also featured Tesla CEO Elon Musk on the show as the two discuss SpaceX’s Starship in a tour of the company’s Starbase headquarters in Boca Chica, Texas. He also has videos featuring the Tesla Model Y, the Model S and others, along with special features on the next-generation Roadster and his own 2008 Roadster, which Musk personally delivered.
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News
Tesla Model Y L gains V2L capabilities with software update
The 2025.32.300 update, which is rolling out to Model Y L vehicles in China, introduces several notable additions.
Tesla has quietly added Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) functionality to the Model Y L through its latest over-the-air update in China, giving owners the ability to power external devices directly from their EVs.
The addition of the feature was highlighted by Tesla in its release notes for China’s 2025.32.300 update.
Model Y L gains V2L and other convenience upgrades
The 2025.32.300 update, which is rolling out to Model Y L vehicles in China, introduces several notable additions. First among them is an “external discharge function,” which enables V2L capability through an official adapter that Tesla plans to release later.
The feature should enable the Model Y L to power appliances, tools, or possibly even other EVs, making it extra useful for camping trips or the occasional power outages.
Other improvements include a lower temperature limit for Dog Mode, customizable low-battery settings to conserve energy while parked, and expanded personalization for the vehicle’s “Rave Cave” entertainment feature. Tesla noted that certain functions may vary depending on vehicle configuration, and rollout timing could differ by region.
Model Y L is surging in China’s SUV rankings
Despite being new in the market, the Model Y L is already making some waves in China’s top-selling mid-to-large SUVs lists. Data from Yiche showed that Tesla sold 8,221 units in September, securing fourth place in the segment behind the Leapmotor C16, Li Auto L6, and the Xiaomi YU7.
The Model Y L’s rapid ascent highlighted its strong market appeal despite a higher price point than most local competitors. Interestingly enough, the Xiaomi YU7, which is positioned closer to the standard Model Y with its five-seat configuration, topped the rankings with 22,244 units sold in September.
With Tesla’s continued free software upgrades, as well as its features like Full Self-Driving (Supervised), however, the Model Y L may have a chance at climbing China’s lists for the best-selling mid-to-large SUVs.
Investor's Corner
Elon Musk’s 2025 pay package gets support from Tesla’s biggest bull
ARK Invest founder Cathie Wood has previously stated that she is quite confident that the vote on Elon Musk’s 2025 Performance Award would pass.
Cathie Wood, CEO of ARK Invest and one of Tesla’s most ardent bulls, reiterated her support for Elon Musk’s 2025 CEO Performance Award.
Wood highlighted that Musk’s leadership attracts incredible talent, and it has allowed the companies he leads such as Tesla to become disruptors in their respective fields.
ARK Invest supports Musk’s leadership
Elon Musk’s 2025 CEO Performance Award has received a mixed reception. Proxy firms such as Glass Lewis and Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) have stated that they would be voting against Musk’s pay package. Other entities, such as the State Board of Administration of Florida (SBA), have stated that they would be voting in favor of Tesla’s proposals.
ARK Invest founder Cathie Wood, for her part, has previously stated that she is quite confident that the vote on Elon Musk’s 2025 Performance Award would pass. She also stated that a favorable result to the vote for Musk’s 2025 pay plan would be beneficial for Tesla.
“Elon Musk is the most productive human being on earth. And a human being who attracts incredible talent, people who want to solve the world’s hardest problems. This is a win-win for all of us if Elon succeeds this time,” Wood stated. Musk appreciated Wood’s comments, stating, “Thanks Cathie!” In a post on X.
ARK Invest has been one of Tesla’s most loyal bulls
Tesla is ARK Invest’s single largest holding, with the firm holding an estimated $1 billion worth of TSLA, as noted in an Insider report. Wood previously said she expects the approval of Musk’s pay package to trigger “super-exponential growth” for the automaker, as new products like the Cybercab and Optimus expand Tesla’s offerings.
“Because think about it. It is a convergence among three of our major platforms. So, robots, energy storage, AI, and it’s not stopping with Robotaxis. There’s a story beyond that with humanoid robots, and our $2,600 number has nothing for humanoid robots. We just thought it’d be an investment, period,” Wood stated during an appearance at Steven Bartlett’s podcast The Diary Of A CEO.
Investor's Corner
Tesla VP for AI software makes a case for upcoming Elon Musk shareholder vote
Elluswamy reiterated the idea that Tesla is indeed at a critical point in its history.
Tesla’s Director of Autopilot Software and VP of AI Software Ashok Elluswamy has shared his thoughts about CEO Elon Musk’s 2025 performance award. While the executive typically discusses topics related to the company’s tech and AI initiaives, Elluswamy made it a point to make a case for Musk’s proposed pay package.
Tesla’s VP for AI Software shares his insights
In a post on X, Elluswamy reiterated the idea that Tesla is indeed at a critical point in its history. This is because the company is changing from a leader in electric vehicles and a major player in the energy storage market to a powerhouse pioneer in robotics that are powered by real-world AI. As per the executive, Elon Musk’s leadership of Tesla is more relevant now more than ever. He also reported an X article he previously wrote about Elon Musk and Tesla.
“This note regarding the importance of Elon leading Tesla is more relevant now than ever. Tesla is at a critical juncture, as it is metamorphosing into the world leader in robotics. Creating large-scale, useful robots requires expertise across engineering design, manufacturing, real-world AI software, chips for AI, and more. Elon is, quite likely, the only person on Earth with deep skills and the right instincts across all these domains,” Elluswamy stated.
A push to support Musk’s 2025 performance award
In recent weeks, Tesla executives such as Board Chair Robyn Denholm have been encouraging TSLA shareholders to vote in favor of Elon Musk’s 2025 performance award, as well as other proposals that the company’s directors have argued are critical to the future of the company. These proposals, Tesla executives noted, are necessary to ensure that the company can achieve the ambitious targets of Elon Musk’s Master Plan Part IV.
Elon Musk’s pay package, as well as the company’s proposals, would be decided at the upcoming 2025 Annual Shareholders Meeting, which would be held at Giga Texas on November 6, 2025. Needless to say, Tesla’s future might very well be decided during the event.
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