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Tesla Semi ‘speed & agility’ praised by professional driver after electric truck encounter
The Tesla Semi is currently traveling across the United States to gather real-world data and refine its systems before it gets released next year. Tesla seems to have brought the Semi over to be test driven by professional driver and 28-year auto veteran Emile Bouret recently as well, who walked away from the experience thoroughly impressed.
Emile Bouret is a professional test driver who has worked with Tesla for years. Bouret is a close friend of Tesla chief designer Franz von Holzhausen, and he has been asked to test drive the company’s vehicles from the Model S to the original Tesla Roadster. He was also the man who conducted test drives in the next-generation Tesla Roadster during the vehicle’s unveiling last November.
The professional driver recently posted an update on his Instagram about the Tesla Semi, lauding the electric long-hauler for its speed and agility, stating that the truck’s performance is practically at odds with its size. Bouret’s caption on his Instagram post suggests that he actually got some hands-on time with the electric long-hauler.
“Blurring The Line | Coworker Edition – I’m clearly very lucky to do what I do & to work with many talented people. As if they could ever be overlooked, the inanimate coworkers I get to work with also tend to be incredibly capable. And that was certainly true with this one, which made a surprise appearance at a recent work site. To see this thing coming down the road in near silence & with speed & agility seemingly at odds with something of its size makes you feel as if you’re living in the future. Kickass cool & crazy in equal measure… the Tesla Semi.”
Tesla loves bending the rules of markets that it disrupts. When the company started selling cars, its business model did away with dealerships, shaking the very idea of how brand new cars are sold. When it seemed like GA3 would not be enough to build 5,000 Model 3 per week by the end of Q2 2018, Tesla built another assembly line inside a sprung structure at the grounds of the Fremont factory.
Now, Tesla is attempting to break into another market that is ripe for disruption — the American trucking industry — and its weapon of choice is the Tesla Semi. The Tesla Semi, just like CEO Elon Musk and the company itself, has attracted its own set of disbelievers and critics. Martin Daum, Daimler’s head of trucks, even suggested that the Tesla Semi defies the laws of physics, considering the specs announced by Musk. Jon Mills, a spokesman for engine maker Cummins Inc., largely dismissed the electric truck and its chances at the long-haul market as well, citing weak demand.
That has not stopped Tesla from pushing the Semi, though. Over the past few weeks, multiple sightings of the Semi have been reported across the United States, and during this time, the vehicle was seen visiting some of the companies that placed pre-orders for the long-hauler. Among these are UPS, J.B. Hunt, and Ruan Transportation Management Systems, all of which shared their enthusiasm for the truck online.
Just like Tesla’s other vehicles, the Semi is designed to be a long-hauler that could be driven well. This is a trademark of all Tesla electric cars to date, as the Model S, Model X, and Model 3 have all been hailed for their ride and drive. The vehicles themselves might attract criticism over their design (such as the Model X’s overcomplicated Falcon Wing Doors and the first-production Model 3’s build quality), but when it comes to drivability and performance, Tesla’s electric cars usually pass with flying colors.
This is what happened with the Model 3 during Detroit veteran Sandy Munro’s teardown and analysis of the vehicle. Munro spared no criticism when he talked about the Model 3’s panel gaps and overall build quality, but when he actually drove the electric sedan, he was impressed. Munro later noted that the person who tuned the suspension for the Model 3 could easily have been an “F1 Prince” — no small compliment coming from a man with decades of experience in the auto industry.
If Emile Bouret’s praise for the Tesla Semi is any indication, it appears that the electric long-hauler would be able to impress even its staunchest critics when it comes to the way it drives and its overall performance. Tesla, after all, has noted that it is in the process of improving the truck before it enters mass production. Elon Musk has already teased that the long-range variant of the vehicle will have closer to 600 miles of range. Making the Telsa Semi impressive to drive is just more icing on the cake.
Elon Musk
Elon Musk shares timeframe for X Money early public access rollout
X Money is expected to enable financial transactions within the app, expanding the platform’s capabilities beyond social media features.
Elon Musk has stated that X Money, the digital payments system being developed for social media platform X, is expected to enter early public access next month.
The update was shared by Musk in a post on X. “𝕏 Money early public access will launch next month,” Musk wrote in his post.
As noted in a Reuters report, X Money is being developed as a digital payment service that’s directly integrated into the X platform.
The system is expected to enable financial transactions within the app, expanding the platform’s capabilities beyond social media features.
Musk has previously discussed plans to introduce payments and financial services as part of X’s broader development.
Since acquiring the platform in 2022, Musk has discussed expanding X to include a range of services such as messaging, media, and financial tools.
Elon Musk has shared his goal of transforming X into an “everything app.” During a previous podcast interview with members of the Tesla community, Musk mused about turning X into something similar to China’s WeChat, which allows users to shop, pay, communicate, and perform a variety of other tasks.
“In China, you do everything in WeChat… it’s kickass… Outside of China, there’s nothing like it, people live on one app. My idea would be like how about if we just copy WeChat,” Musk joked at the time.
To prepare for the rollout of X Money, X has partnered with payment company Visa to support the development of payment services for the platform’s users. The move could allow X to tap into the growing demand for digital and in-app financial transactions as the company builds additional services around its existing user base.
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Tesla Cybercab display highlights interior wizardry in the small two-seater
Photos and videos of the production Cybercab were shared in posts on social media platform X.
The Tesla Cybercab is currently on display at the U.S. Department of Transportation in Washington, D.C., and observations of the production vehicle are highlighting some of its notable design details.
Photos and videos of the production Cybercab were shared in posts on social media platform X.
Observers of the Cybercab display unit noted that the two-seat Robotaxi provides unusually generous legroom for a vehicle of its size. Based on the vehicle’s video, the compact two-seater appears to offer more legroom than Tesla’s larger vehicles such as the Model Y, Model X, and Cybertruck.
The Cybercab’s layout allows Tesla to dedicate nearly the entire cabin to passengers. The vehicle is designed without a steering wheel or pedals, which helps maximize interior space.
Footage from the display also highlights the Cybercab’s large center screen, which is positioned prominently in front of the passenger bench. The display appears intended to provide entertainment and ride information while the vehicle operates autonomously.
Images of the vehicle also show an additional camera integrated into the Cybercab’s C-pillar. The extra camera appears to expand the vehicle’s field of view, which would be useful as Tesla works toward fully unsupervised Full Self-Driving.
Tesla engineers have previously explained that the Cybercab was designed to be highly efficient both in manufacturing and in operation. Cybercab Lead Engineer Eric E. stated in 2024 that the Robotaxi would be built with roughly half the number of parts used in a Model 3 sedan.
“Two seats unlocks a lot of opportunity aerodynamically. It also means we cut the part count of Cybercab down by a substantial margin. We’re gonna be delivering a car that has roughly half the parts of Model 3 today,” the Tesla engineer said.
The Tesla engineer also noted that the Cybercab’s cargo area can accommodate multiple golf bags, two carry-on suitcases, and two full-size checked bags. The trunk can also fit certain bicycles and a foldable wheelchair depending on size, which is quite impressive for a small car like the Cybercab.
Elon Musk
Elon Musk’s xAI wins permit for power plant supporting AI data centers
The development was reported by CNBC, citing confirmation from the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ).
Mississippi regulators have approved a permit allowing Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company xAI to construct a natural gas power plant in Southaven. The facility is expected to support the company’s expanding AI infrastructure tied to its Colossus data center operations near Memphis.
The development was reported by CNBC, citing confirmation from the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ).
According to the report, regulators “voted to approve the permit” of xAI subsidiary MZX Tech LLC to construct a power plant featuring 41 natural gas-burning turbines “after careful consideration of all public comments and community concerns.”
The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality stated that the permit followed a regulatory review process that included public comments and community input. Jaricus Whitlock, air division chief for the MDEQ, stated that the project met all applicable environmental standards.
“The proposed PSD permit in front of the board today not only meets all state and federal permitting regulations, but goes above and beyond what is required by law. MDEQ and the EPA agree that not a single person around our facilities will be exposed to unhealthy levels of air pollution,” Whitlock stated.
The planned facility will help provide electricity for xAI’s AI computing infrastructure in the Memphis region.
The Southaven project forms part of xAI’s efforts to scale computing capacity for its artificial intelligence systems.
The company currently operates two major data centers in Memphis, known as Colossus 1 and Colossus 2, which provide computing power for xAI’s Grok AI models. xAI is also planning to build another large data center in Southaven called Macrohardrr, which would be located in a warehouse previously used by GXO Logistics.
Large-scale AI training requires substantial computing power and electricity, prompting technology companies to develop dedicated energy infrastructure for their data centers.
SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell previously stated that xAI plans to develop 1.2 gigawatts of power capacity for its Memphis-area AI supercomputer site as part of the federal government’s Ratepayer Protection Pledge. The commitment was announced during an event with United States President Donald Trump.
“As part of today’s commitment, we will take extensive additional steps to continue to reduce the costs of electricity for our neighbors. xAI will therefore commit to develop 1.2 GW of power as our supercomputer’s primary power source. That will be for every additional data center as well. We will expand what is already the largest global Megapack power installation in the world,” Shotwell said.
“The installation will provide enough backup power to power the city of Memphis, and more than sufficient energy to power the town of Southaven, Mississippi where the data center resides. We will build new substations and invest in electrical infrastructure to provide stability to the area’s grid.”
Elon Musk shares timeframe for X Money early public access rollout
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