The Budweiser beer maker Anheuser-Busch (NSYE:BUD) has ordered 40 Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) all-electric Semi trucks, the biggest publicly announced order Tesla has received.
The electric trucks, which are set for production by 2019, will help Anheuser-Busch to reduce fuel costs and vehicle emissions.
“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.”
The trucks will be used for deliveries to wholesalers within a 500-mile (800-km) range, which was promised by Elon Musk, Chief Executive of Tesla.
Tesla, already well-entrenched in the electric vehicle market, is now stepping into the sphere of the electric Semi. Already, it looks like there is greater interest here than there has been in the market for electric commercial vehicles, as the commercial versions have a much more limited range when compared to the diesel vehicles.
There have been numerous orders coming in for Tesla Semi trucks from trucking, grocery, and retail companies, totaling as much as 117 trucks, if not more, but the order from Anheuser-Busch marks the largest known order that Tesla has received for its electric trucks.
