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PepsiCo invests in Musk’s trucks

Tesla Semi TruckPepsiCo is moving to modernise its distribution network, pre-ordering 100 of Elon Musk’s new self-driving trucks in the largest deal for the futuristic vehicles yet, Reuters reported.

Joining the likes of Walmart and Budweiser owner Anheuser-Busch, PepsiCo could have the new vehicles on the road by 2019, when Tesla releases its first production line of the big rigs, which are entirely electrical.

Reuters reports that PepsiCo likely paid between $5,000 and $20,000 per truck for the right to pre-order to vehicles, which were unveiled by Tesla last month. It intends to use the Tesla Semis for shipping snack foods and beverages between its manufacturing facilities and retailers.

A PepsiCo executive told Reuters that it is looking to reduce fuel and fleet emissions, a promise made by Musk alongside claims that the Tesla Semis will be cheaper to run than diesel vehicles. Tesla’s move on the trucking business has put grins on the faces of many futurists. Musk said the trucks can travel more than 800 kilometres on a single charge while hauling over 36,000 kilos.

“Because the vast majority of routes are under 250 miles, it means you can go to your destination and back without recharging – you could deliver a load to the middle of nowhere and come back,” Musk told an audience at Tesla’s reveal event.

“The economics of trucking matter immensely… a diesel truck when you take into account the full cost of trucking will be 20 per cent more expensive than a Tesla Semi.”

What’s more, Musk said the trucks outperform existing diesel ones on speed and torque, while recharging most of its capacity in half an hour – something that can be done while loading and unloading. The vehicles will also communicate with each other on the road, creating convoys automatically when driverless functionality, which comes standard with each vehicle, is switched on.

Australian stakeholders are already preparing for disruption associated with self-driving trucks in Australia, with retail landlord Mirvac having already indicated that it will invest in infrastructure to support electric road-freight at its centres for retail and grocery partners.

PepsiCo is moving to modernise its distribution network, pre-ordering 100 of Elon Musk’s new self-driving trucks in the largest deal for the futuristic vehicles yet. Joining the likes of Walmart and Budweiser owner Anheuser-Busch, PepsiCo could have the new vehicles on the road by 2019, when Tesla releases its first production line of the big rigs, which are entirely electrical.

Reuters reports that PepsiCo likely paid between $5,000 and $20,000 per truck for the right to pre-order to vehicles, which were unveiled by Tesla last month. It intends to use the Tesla Semis for shipping snack foods and beverages between its manufacturing facilities and retailers.

A PepsiCo executive told Reuters that it is looking to reduce fuel and fleet emissions, a promise made by Musk alongside claims that the Tesla Semis will be cheaper to run than diesel vehicles. Tesla’s move on the trucking business has put grins on the faces of many futurists. Musk said the trucks can travel more than 800 kilometres on a single charge while hauling over 36,000 kilos.

“Because the vast majority of routes are under 250 miles, it means you can go to your destination and back without recharging – you could deliver a load to the middle of nowhere and come back,” Musk told an audience at Tesla’s reveal event.

“The economics of trucking matter immensely…a diesel truck when you take into account the full cost of trucking will be 20 per cent more expensive than a Tesla Semi.”

What’s more, Musk said the trucks outperform existing diesel ones on speed and torque, while recharging most of its capacity in half an hour – something that can be done while loading and unloading. The vehicles will also communicate with each other on the road, creating convoys automatically when driverless functionality, which comes standard with each vehicle, is switched on.

Australian stakeholders are already preparing for disruption associated with self-driving trucks in Australia, with retail landlord Mirvac having already indicated that it will invest in infrastructure to support electric road-freight at its centres for retail and grocery partners.

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