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Tesla Semi’s spacious cabin highlighted in side-by-side picture with diesel trucks

(Credit: Jerome Guillen/LinkedIn)

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A recently shared photo of the Semi beside a couple of conventional vehicle delivery trucks was shared by Tesla’s Automotive President Jerome Guillen on LinkedIn. Tesla’s long-hauler definitely looks like it came from the future, thanks to its unique design, cavernous cabin, and central driving position.

Even though the Semi has been spotted in multiple locations over the years, it has rarely been photographed alongside more traditional long haul trucks. This made it a bit challenging to see just how physically different the Tesla Semi was compared to its competition. That is, at least, until Jerome Guillen’s recent LinkedIn post, which depicted the Semi alongside the very vehicles it is intended to replace.

Guillen posted the Semi’s image with a caption, saying, “Quick respite after strong Q2 deliveries. The space alien did come to rescue the dinosaurs.” The Automotive President didn’t specify what his caption was about, though he seemed to be referring to the Semi and its more conventional peers, as well as the role that the all-electric truck played in Tesla’s recent end of quarter push.

A look at the recently shared image highlights the Semi’s large and spacious cabin, especially compared to the two traditional delivery trucks beside it. The Semi’s wraparound windshield, apart from giving drivers a commanding view of the road and excellent visibility, gives the all-electric truck a notably futuristic look. The Semi’s central driving position, which is unapologetically futuristic in its own right, ties the vehicle’s look together.

Ultimately, Guillen’s post highlights a prominent theme in Tesla’s history: the steady transition from tried and tested fossil fuel conventions to the potential presented by sustainable solutions. The Tesla Semi could address most of the problems plaguing the trucking industry today, after all. For example, with its Convoy Mode, Tesla Semi makes driving trucks a little safer.

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Previous reports have emerged suggesting that finding drivers in the trucking industry has been difficult as of late despite decent wages, simply because some drivers aren’t willing to take on the health risks caused by the job. The Tesla Semi, with its zero-emissions nature, and its features such as Convoy Mode, which could make driving easier, alleviates some of that risk.

(Credit: Tesla)

Tesla has been conducting road tests with the Semi since it unveiled the all-electric Class 8 truck back in late 2017. Since then, Tesla’s two Semi prototypes have been put through the paces. Recently, the red wrapped unit was even spotted undergoing winter testing in Tesla’s facility in Alaska.

A recent Elon Musk email revealed that the Tesla Semi is poised to enter volume production soon. Considering that Musk was confident enough to move the Semi into volume production, the all-electric Class 8 truck’s final specifications and design are likely being ironed out if they aren’t already.

The Tesla Semi was announced with a range of either 300 or 500 miles, but Elon Musk has mentioned that the production version of long hauler could have closer to 600 miles of range. With Tesla Battery Day tentatively scheduled for September, Musk’s statements about the production Semi’s range may very well prove to be accurate.

Simon is an experienced automotive reporter with a passion for electric cars and clean energy. Fascinated by the world envisioned by Elon Musk, he hopes to make it to Mars (at least as a tourist) someday. For stories or tips--or even to just say a simple hello--send a message to his email, simon@teslarati.com or his handle on X, @ResidentSponge.

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Tesla dominates in the UK with Model Y and Model 3 leading the way

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Credit: Tesla China

Tesla is dominating in the United Kingdom so far through 2025, and with about two weeks left in the year, the Model Y and Model 3 are leading the way.

The Model Y and Model 3 are the two best-selling electric vehicles in the United Kingdom, which is comprised of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and it’s not particularly close.

According to data gathered by EU-EVs, the Model Y is sitting at 18,890 units for the year, while the Model 3 is slightly behind with 16,361 sales for the year so far.

The next best-selling EV is the Audi Q4 e-tron at 10,287 units, lagging significantly behind but ahead of other models like the BMW i4 and the Audi Q6 e-tron.

The Model Y has tasted significant success in the global market, but it has dominated in large markets like Europe and the United States.

For years, it’s been a car that has fit the bill of exactly what consumers need: a perfect combination of luxury, space, and sustainability.

Both vehicles are going to see decreases in sales compared to 2024; the Model Y was the best-selling car last year, but it sold 32,610 units in the UK. Meanwhile, the Model 3 had reached 17,272 units, which will keep it right on par with last year.

Tesla announces major milestone in the United Kingdom

Tesla sold 50,090 units in the market last year, and it’s about 8,000 units shy of last year’s pace. It also had a stronger market share last year with 13.2 percent of the sales in the market. With two weeks left in 2025, Tesla has a 9.6 percent market share, leading Volkswagen with 8 percent.

The company likely felt some impact from CEO Elon Musk’s involvement with the Trump administration and, more specifically, his role with DOGE. However, it is worth mentioning that some months saw stronger consumer demand than others. For example, sales were up over 20 percent in February. A 14 percent increase followed this in June.

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Tesla Insurance officially expands to new U.S. state

Tesla’s in-house Insurance program first launched back in late 2019, offering a new way to insure the vehicles that was potentially less expensive and could alleviate a lot of the issues people had with claims, as the company could assess and repair the damage itself.

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Credit: Tesla Insurance

Tesla Insurance has officially expanded to a new U.S. state, its thirteenth since its launch in 2019.

Tesla has confirmed that its in-house Insurance program has officially made its way to Florida, just two months after the company filed to update its Private Passenger Auto program in the state. It had tried to offer its insurance program to drivers in the state back in 2022, but its launch did not happen.

Instead, Tesla refiled the paperwork back in mid-October, which essentially was the move toward initiating the offering this month.

Tesla’s in-house Insurance program first launched back in late 2019, offering a new way to insure the vehicles that was potentially less expensive and could alleviate a lot of the issues people had with claims, as the company could assess and repair the damage itself.

It has expanded to new states since 2019, but Florida presents a particularly interesting challenge for Tesla, as the company’s entry into the state is particularly noteworthy given its unique insurance landscape, characterized by high premiums due to frequent natural disasters, dense traffic, and a no-fault system.

Tesla partners with Lemonade for new insurance program

Annual average premiums for Florida drivers hover around $4,000 per year, well above the national average. Tesla’s insurance program could disrupt this, especially for EV enthusiasts. The state’s growing EV adoption, fueled by incentives and infrastructure development, aligns perfectly with Tesla’s ecosystem.

Moreover, there are more ways to have cars repaired, and features like comprehensive coverage for battery damage and roadside assistance tailored to EVs address those common painpoints that owners have.

However, there are some challenges that still remain. Florida’s susceptibility to hurricanes raises questions about how Tesla will handle claims during disasters.

Looking ahead, Tesla’s expansion of its insurance program signals the company’s ambition to continue vertically integrating its services, including coverage of its vehicles. Reducing dependency on third-party insurers only makes things simpler for the company’s automotive division, as well as for its customers.

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Tesla Full Self-Driving gets sparkling review from South Korean politician

“Having already ridden in an unmanned robotaxi, the novelty wasn’t as strong for me, but it drives just as well as most people do. It already feels like a completed technology, which gives me a lot to think about.”

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Credit: Soyoung Lee | X

Tesla Full Self-Driving got its first sparkling review from South Korean politician Lee So-young, a member of the country’s National Assembly, earlier this week.

Lee is a member of the Strategy and Finance Committee in South Korea and is a proponent of sustainable technologies and their applications in both residential and commercial settings. For the first time, Lee was able to utilize Tesla’s Full Self-Driving technology as it launched in the country in late November.

Her thoughts on the suite were complimentary to the suite, stating that “it drives just as well as most people do,” and that “it already feels like a completed technology.”

Her translated post says:

“Finally, today I got to experience Tesla FSD in Seoul. Thanks to the Model S sponsored by JiDal Papa^^, I’m truly grateful to Papa. The route was from the National Assembly -> Mangwon Market -> Hongik University -> back to the National Assembly. Having already ridden in an unmanned robotaxi, the novelty wasn’t as strong for me, but it drives just as well as most people do. It already feels like a completed technology, which gives me a lot to think about. Once it actually spreads into widespread use, I feel like our daily lives are going to change a lot. Even I, with my license gathering dust in a drawer, don’t see much reason to learn to drive a manual anymore.”

Tesla Full Self-Driving officially landed in South Korea in late November, with the initial launch being one of Tesla’s most recent, v14.1.4.

It marked the seventh country in which Tesla was able to enable the driver assistance suite, following the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, China, Mexico, Australia, and New Zealand.

It is important to see politicians and figures in power try new technologies, especially ones that are widely popular in other regions of the world and could potentially revolutionize how people travel globally.

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