“Driverless” Tesla Semi vid causes quite a stir among fans

A video featuring a prototype version of the Tesla Semi truck was posted a few days ago, but it wasn’t until today that the viewers noticed no one’s driving it.

Then, of course, someone had to ruin all the fun by commenting that the absence of the driver is little more than a trick of light, and that there is a perfectly visible moment when the driver’s sunglasses catch sun glare. So no, a self-driving all-electric truck this ain’t.

Not that we wouldn’t be happy to see smart vehicles freeing people from hard jobs like this one. It is just that, in any case, Tesla would never admit a prototype vehicle on a public road unattended.

The Tesla Semi has recently concluded a series of freight capacity tests. Last time it was spotted cruising along a highway somewhere in California late last month. The company later reported the semi was carrying nine concrete blocks weighing around 16 metric tons (35,000 lbs) in total. Rumor has it that the final production vehicle will be able to haul as much as 23 metric tons (50,000 lbs).

Tesla promises to start production before the end of the year. In the meantime, the company has opened pre-orders with a mandatory USD 150,000 deposit. Customers may choose Standard (483 km / 300 miles once fully charged) or Long Range (805 km / 500 miles).