Tesla Semi Test Vehicles Are Equipped With Puzzling ‘Mad Max’ Mode

Tesla chief executive Elon Musk has revealed that test mules of the upcoming Tesla Semi feature a ‘Mad Max’ mode.

Musk took to Twitter to reveal the Easter egg, which follows on from the likes of Ludicrous and Plaid speed modes available in the Model S, Model X and Roadster. Whereas those modes have been designed to improve acceleration, the Semi’s Mad Max mode relates to the vehicle’s Autopilot system.

An image posted by Musk shows that the special setting is found under ‘Blind Spot Threshold’. Other options are Standard and Aggressive, but the exact function of ‘Blind Sport Threshold’ remains unclear.

One possible explanation, offered by Autoblog, is that it could be related to how aggressively the truck executes lane changes when Autopilot is enabled. The different settings most likely relate to how close another vehicle is in the other lane and whether or not the Semi will change lanes in front of them.

Interestingly, Musk suggested that the Mad Max mode might not actually make its way to the production model.

“Reality is that it will be pretty easy to bully a self-driving car, as it will always yield. Will probably have a manual override that requires continuous press for hardcore lane changes,” he said in response to a question about if the mode will make it to production.

Whether or not Mad Max mode makes it to production or not is neither here nor there in the grand scheme of things. Of much more importance will be the Semi’s range, which, according to Musk, will exceed 600 miles (965 km) under perfect driving conditions in the range-topping version.