PepsiCo, a big customer of Tesla, planned to use 100 of Tesla’s electric trucks for transporting its snacks and sodas. But, as of this month, PepsiCo only used 36 of the trucks.
Tesla faces challenges in delivering enough trucks, and other companies like Sysco, UPS, and Walmart Canada are looking at other electric truck makers because they are still waiting for Tesla’s Semis.
Tesla’s struggles to deliver enough trucks come at a tough time for the company. Its growth in selling electric cars has slowed, and it decided to cancel its plan for a cheap car that many investors hoped would help the company grow more.
Diesel trucks create a lot of pollution. So, companies want electric trucks to help cut down on pollution.
PepsiCo got government grants to help pay for the Semis, but it hasn’t received all the trucks it ordered. The company says its plans for the trucks can change as technology develops.
Tesla promised to make a lot of Semis by 2019, but it faced challenges in making enough batteries for the trucks.
Other companies, like UPS and Schneider National, are choosing other electric-truck makers like Daimler Truck because they are still waiting for Tesla’s Semis.
The range of Daimler Truck’s electric big rig is less than Tesla’s, but it’s still being used by many companies.
Tesla has a small fleet of Semis that it uses for its own operations. But, it’s still working on making more Semis for customers.
PepsiCo is working on getting ready for an electric-truck fleet, but it takes time to set up the infrastructure needed for it.
Some investors are worried about PepsiCo’s plan for using Tesla’s Semis because they are behind schedule.
In Europe, ASKO Norway is using electric trucks from other companies while it waits for Tesla to deliver its Semis. Tesla says it’s giving priority to delivering Semis to Pepsi and other U.S. customers.
