Brewing company Anheuser-Busch behind popular brands like Budweiser and Bud Light has placed an order for 40 Tesla Semi trucks. The beer maker announced in a press release that its commitment to driving a more efficient supply chain and reduced environmental impact was the motivator for its investment into Tesla’s semi-truck.
“At Anheuser-Busch, we are constantly seeking new ways to make our supply chain more sustainable, efficient, and innovative,” said James Sembrot, Senior Director of Logistics Strategy. “This investment in Tesla semi-trucks helps us achieve these goals while improving road safety and lowering our environmental impact.”
Anheuser-Busch’s reservation of 40 Tesla Semi trucks represents one of the largest reported pre-orders made by a business, and joins a long list of other companies including DHL and Walmart that have placed orders on the all-electric big rig.
In addition to providing the company with cost benefits – Tesla Semi will have half the cost-per-mile of a diesel truck – the 500-mile range electric truck that’s assisted by four Model 3 motors will also have improved road safety by way of its semi-autonomous “convoy mode” capabilities.
Anheuser-Busch notes that the integration of a Tesla Semi fleet into its distribution network will help the company achieve its goal to reduce operational carbon footprint by 30 percent by 2025, or the equivalent of removing nearly a half million cars from the road each year.
“We can’t wait to get these trucks on the road, and keep leading our industry forward to a greener, smarter future in partnership with some of the world’s most innovative companies,” said Sembrot. “The transportation industry is evolving fast, and we’re really excited to play a leadership role in driving this evolution by integrating these new technologies across our network.”
The beer giant is also working with Nikola, to include hydrogen-powered trucks within its network, as well as Otto and Uber Freight for testing of autonomous driving technology.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk unveils a 300-mile and 500-mile semi-truck at its Los Angeles-based Design Center (Photo: Teslarati)