Tesla is beginning to prove that the future of trucking may actually be electric
- Food distributor Sysco has ordered 40 Tesla Semis.
- Sysco joins major companies like Walmart and Anheuser-Busch as early customers for Tesla's new electric trucks.
- Some were skeptical of Tesla's ability to break into the trucking industry.
Tesla just added another major client to its Semi pre-order list, as food service distributor Sysco has reserved 50 of Tesla's electric trucks, according to Sysco's website.
Sysco hopes the trucks will help the company save on fuel and maintenance costs and reduce its environmental footprint. "In addition to the positive environmental impacts, we will also benefit from reduced fuel and maintenance costs and drive associate enthusiasm with the introduction of new and unique technology," Tom Bene, Sysco's president and chief operating officer, said.
While some had doubts about Tesla's ability to break into the trucking industry before it introduced the Semi, early orders indicate Tesla may beat expectations.
The electric trucks have impressive features, including a 500-mile range per charge and the ability to travel 400 miles on a 30-minute charge, impact resistant glass, an innovative cabin design, and the ability to go 0-60 mph in five seconds without any cargo and in 20 seconds while carrying 80,000 pounds of cargo. But Tesla will ultimately be judged on the number of clients who buy and use the trucks over the long term.
These are the companies who have placed orders for the Tesla Semi so far:
- Walmart: One of the first major companies to reserve the trucks, the retailer has made aggressive investments in technology in recent years as part of its effort to compete with Amazon.
- Anheuser-Busch: On Wednesday, the brewer announced it ordered 40 Semis.
- DHL: The transportation and logistics company has reserved 10 Semis to add to its fleet.
- Meijer: Based in Michigan, the grocery chain has ordered four of the electric trucks.
- Ryder: The transportation company reserved an unspecified number of Semis in November.
- J.B. Hunt: The trucking company is set to purchase "multiple" Semis, but hasn't revealed the exact number.
- Flexport: Ryan Peterson, the freight company's CEO, announced the company has ordered one Semi.
- JK Moving: The independent moving company has reserved four Semis.
- Loblaw: After ordering 25 Semis, the Canadian supermarket chain announced plans to make its trucking fleet 100% electric by 2030.
- Fercam: Based in Italy, the trucking company has reserved a single Semi.
- Girteka Logistics: Not to be outdone by Fercam, the European transportation company also announced its plans to invest in one of Tesla's electric trucks.
- Fortigo Freight Services: The Canadian logistics company reserved one Semi.
- Best Transportation: The shipping company also ordered one Semi.
- Mecca & Son Trucking: According to Jalopnik, this trucking company has reserved one Semi.