Musk Delivers First Tesla Truck To PepsiCo

Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla Inc (TSLA.O), handed the company's first heavy-duty Semi truck to PepsiCo (PEP.O) on Thursday without providing updated predictions for the truck's pricing, production plans, or how much cargo it might handle.

Musk, speaking onstage at a Tesla event in Nevada, said the battery-powered, long-haul truck will reduce highway pollution, surpass existing diesel models in terms of power and safety, and spin-off a fast-charging technology Tesla would employ in its planned Cybertruck pickup.

"If you're a trucker and you want the most badass rig on the road, this is it," 

Musk emphasised that the all-electric truck had been in development for five years. Nonetheless, industry analysts are unconvinced that battery electric vehicles can withstand the strain of hauling heavy loads for hundreds of miles on a single charge.

Tesla stated in 2017 that the 300-mile range version of the Semi would cost $150,000 and the 500-mile version would cost $180,000, but Tesla's passenger electric vehicle pricing have risen dramatically since then.

Tesla's chair, Robyn Denholm, reportedly stated that the manufacturer may construct 100 Semis this year. Musk has stated that Tesla plans to construct 50,000 of the vehicles by 2024.

PepsiCo, which purchased 100 Tesla trucks in 2017, conducted its first cargo run with the Tesla truck to distribute snacks to those attending the Nevada launch ceremony.

Other corporations that had reserved the Semi included Anheuser-Busch (ABI.BR), United Parcel Service Inc (UPS.N), and Walmart Inc (WMT.N). Tesla did not offer information on customer orders or deliveries, nor did it provide an estimate of the total cost of ownership for potential buyers when compared to diesel alternatives.