Four years after making its initial order, PepsiCo says it knows when it will receive its first order of Tesla Semis: Ramon Laguarta, PepsiCo’s CEO, said the trucks are coming this quarter.
Laguarta made the comment on Monday while speaking to CNBC‘s Jim Cramer, who asked about PepsiCo’s plans to reduce carbon dioxide emissions at the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference, or COP26.
“Transportation is about 10% of our overall gas emissions so it’s important and we’re working on different solutions,” said Laguarta. “We replace our fleet regularly, every ten years more or less… and we’re already starting to buy electric trucks actually from Tesla. I mean 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.”
Read Also: Tesla Semi Has A 500-Mile Range And Hits 60MPH In 5 Seconds
Laguarta did not say how many of the trucks were expected, nor did he elaborate on the timeline. In March, however, PepsiCo told Electrek it would be receiving 15 of the vehicles by the end of the year to help turn its Modesto, California site into a zero-emissions facility.
The Tesla Semi was first unveiled in 2016 and was set to enter production in 2019, but it was delayed. In July of this year, Tesla said in an earnings call that production was on hold until 2022 due to supply chain issues, which would seem to be at odds with Laguarta’s statements.
A report from July, though, suggested that the Tesla Semi production line was in the final stages of development.
Tesla claims that the Semi will be capable of running 500 miles (805 km) on a charge and will be able to tow 80,000 lbs. It also claimed that the vehicle will not break down in its first million miles of running. PepsiCo has ordered 100 units of the all-electric Semi.
