Jay Leno Drives the Tesla Semi While Hauling a Second Truck, Calls It Amazing

This isn't the first time Leno got to hop onboard a brand-new Tesla vehicle before anyone else. Jay also drove and even drag-raced the Model S Plaid before the EV reached its first customers. And not only did he get to drive the Semi, but he also hauled a trailer carrying another truck.

The test drive saw chief designer Franz von Holzhausen and Semi truck engineer Dan Priestley join in to provide assistance and a lot of information on the all-electric hauler. Priestley points out that the truck was born to ship Tesla parts between factories with a vehicle as green as the Model S and Model Y.

The idea, which came from former executive and current board member J.B. Straubel, snowballed rapidly into a production hauler designed to change the trucking industry. Speaking of which, Priestley claims the Semi will provide nearly $200,000 of savings during the first three years of operation.

Inspired by high-speed trains as far as design goes, the Semi has up to 1,500 horsepower available. However, the amount of oomph reaching the wheels will be lower to improve range. That's something fleet operators will be able to customize.

Unlike Tesla cars and SUVs, the Semi won't have an AWD option. Priestley explains that an AWD system would cause the front tires to wear out much quicker and thus increase operational costs. All told, the RWD design is yet another cost-saving measure. He also mentioned that the truck's turning radius is very similar to a Tesla Model Y, which is impressive, to say the least.

Leno enters the truck 18 minutes into the video and notices everything looks very familiar. He enjoys the center-mounted driver seat and almost immediately praises the Semi: "It doesn't feel clumsy; you don't feel like you're in some huge truck. It's pretty amazing."

The former TV show host is just as impressed when he's asked to tow a trailer with a second Tesla Semi on top, claiming he doesn't feel like he's pulling anything. Priestley goes on to explain that the smooth take-off is due to the truck dynamically adjusting the power based on the load it senses.

Jay ends the video by asking Elon Musk to create "a Winnebago version" of the truck. He's basically calling for an all-electric motorhome, and I think that's a fantastic idea. Until that happens, learn more about the Tesla Semi in the lengthy video below.