PepsiCo says its first Tesla Semi trucks are coming this year, despite Elon Musk warning of delays
- PepsiCo expects to take delivery of its first batch of Tesla Semi trucks by the end of 2021.
- The company's CEO, Ramon Laguarta, told CNBC it's part of a plan to cut transportation emissions.
Your next bag of Doritos or case of Mountain Dew could arrive at the store by way of a fully electric Tesla Semi.
PepsiCo, the maker of snacks and drinks from Lays to Cheetos to its namesake soda, expects to take delivery of its first battery-powered big rigs by the end of the year. Tesla has a history of missing deadlines for its vehicle launches, but it appears that the Semi may hit the road sooner than Elon Musk expected.
PepsiCo CEO Ramon Laguarta told CNBC on Monday that the trucks are part of the company's efforts to reduce emissions tied to transportation.
"Transportation is about 10% of our overall gas emissions, so it's important and we're working on different solutions," Laguarta said. "We're already starting to buy electric trucks from Tesla. I don't want to promote anybody, but that's the brand we're using so far, and we're getting our first deliveries this Q4."
PepsiCo announced it had placed a preorder for 100 Tesla Semis in late 2017, shortly after the truck's debut. At first, Tesla planned to start delivering trucks in 2020, but that deadline has slipped a few times. In July, Tesla said it had pushed the Semi's launch to 2022, citing limited availability of batteries and other supply chain challenges.
PepsiCo did not immediately respond to emailed questions about how many Semi trucks it expects to receive in 2021. In March, the company said it plans to take delivery of 15 electric trucks by the end of the year, without specifying the make.
Tesla did not return Insider's request for comment.
The Semi costs between $150,000 and $180,000 and promises to save shippers hundreds of thousands in fueling costs over time. It has attracted preorders from companies like Walmart, FedEx, and the beer giant Anheuser-Busch.