The Tesla Cybertruck is finally getting an off-road mode via an over-the-air software update, allowing early owners of the monstrous electric truck to finally get granular 4×4-style features that were promised from the start.

The news comes via a post by Tesla’s Cybertruck account on X, which shared an image of the Off-Road Mode screen with different settings, options for locking differentials, the ability to turn off rear steering, and more. Off-Road Mode has two main settings: Overland Mode for consistent handling and better traction on rock, gravel, snow, and sand, plus a Baja Mode that improves balance and “handles more freely.”

Wes Morrill, whose X profile lists them as the lead Cybertruck engineer, also posted some more details about the update. Morrill notes the app allows for a quick look at the vitals of the car, on-board camera feeds you can swipe through, as well as one-touch controls for the off-road features.

Cybertruck owners can even get quick access to Wade Mode that raises the truck to handle deep water situations — which is not covered under warranty despite CEO Elon Musk’s saying for years that the Model S and the Cybertruck can act like a boat for short periods.

Tesla has also launched CyberTent mode, which levels the truck on horizon, runs the AC, keeps the tonneau cover open, and keeps the outlets powered. The feature is designed to work in conjunction with Tesla’s ugly but functional Basecamp tent add-on. Tesla was selling the $3,000 kit to Cybertruck owners for more than a month — before the software to fully utilize it was available.

Remember Google’s AR search, which can make augmented reality bugs, dinos, neat objects, and buildings appear atop the real world through the lens of your phone? Now might be a good time to take it in because it seems to be vanishing.

According to 9to5Google, the number of animals that will give you AR renders when you search for them has shriveled to just a few. My editor, Richard Lawler, saw the same thing on his Pixel 8 Pro, as did I when I checked my Pixel 6. But when I searched in Safari on my iPhone 15 Pro, there they were: Tyrannosaurus Rex, Spinosaurus, Rhinoceros Beetle, Jewel Beetle, and a Giant Panda!

Perhaps it’s just a bug? Or perhaps Safari is a temporary workaround.

We asked Google to explain what’s happening, but it didn’t give us an answer by press time. We’ll update if that changes. In the meantime, maybe now is a good time to go look at some AR animals — if they’re still showing up for you. Just in case.

For skeptics of the Tesla Semi-Truck, performance across less-than-perfect conditions is near the top of their list of questions. Sure, this all-electric truck can handle perfectly controlled environments, but truckers know that things are rarely perfect on the roads in the real world.

After we wrote about how the Tesla Semi-Truck blew away a diesel-fueled truck in acceleration, even on steep grades, our readers still had plenty of questions about the Tesla truck design. Some of those questions focused on whether it had the control and power to handle rough weather and icy roads.

We sought answers to those questions about weather from Tesla itself but did not receive a response. Fortunately, we have some other means of investigating this issue, including a recent video from the California Highway Patrol (CHP) that may provide some answers.

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How the Tesla Semi-Truck appeared to perform in poor weather

The CHP created a Facebook post in early 2024 that mentioned closing Donner Summit along I-80 in California after multiple semi-trucks lost control on icy roads. The announcement itself was not the notable item, though.

What caught our attention – and the attention of 3.5 million-plus viewers – was a video of a Tesla Semi-Truck slowly but successfully navigating the icy roads. The CHP didn’t mention the Tesla truck in the post, but the video clearly shows its unique design.

CHP Facebook page (CHP) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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We must say that although the video seemed to show the Tesla Semi-Truck handling the ice like a cold-weather pro, it was only 17 seconds long. It’s impossible to tell just how far the truck traveled during the video and how fast it was going. We also don’t know what happened with the truck after the officer stopped recording. 

Still, the video evidence appears to show that icy conditions were no problem for this Tesla Semi-Truck. If true, this would indicate that it could perform anywhere in the United States at any time of the year rather than only in warm-weather states that experience primarily mild weather.

Tesla Semi-Truck in icy conditions (CHP) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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How the Tesla Semi-Truck could affect emissions on a large scale

Tesla claims its Semi-Truck has an energy consumption of less than 2 kWh per mile, even when fully loaded at 82,000 pounds. Such energy savings could be monumental in terms of cutting emissions. Transport & Environment estimates semi-trucks in Europe account for 27% of all vehicle emissions while only representing 2% of the vehicles on the road. 

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Tesla Semi-Truck at charging station (Tesla) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

The EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) calls heavy-duty trucks the “fastest growing contributor to emissions,” making an all-electric option like the Tesla Semi-Truck game-changing. With the EPA expecting freight activity in the United States to grow by 45% from today to 2040, finding new options for cutting emissions is vital.

Of course, to provide such benefits, the Tesla truck would have to prove that it can handle the conditions that truckers encounter every day, including performing in less-than-ideal road conditions and weather. What the vehicle seemed to do in the CHP video would indicate a positive step forward.

Tesla Semi-Truck at charging station (Tesla) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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Kurt’s key takeaways

The Tesla Semi-Truck appears to show video proof of the strength of its design, such as the power it delivers on hills. It proved its efficiency for traveling long distances on a single charge. And now it seems to be showcasing safe operation in winter road conditions. It will be interesting to see what this truck can deliver in the near future as it attempts to overcome skeptics.

Do you believe Tesla Semi-Trucks are the future of the trucking industry? Can these trucks meet the needs of truckers who require top-notch, real-world performance? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.

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