Tesla has announced plans to deliver 50 additional Semis to PepsiCo. News of the additional deliveries was shared by Semi program manager Dan Priestly while speaking at the ACT Expo in Las Vegas on Monday.
PepsiCo’s existing fleet of 36 Tesla Semis has already surpassed expectations. These trucks demonstrated remarkable performance during the North American Council for Freight Efficiency’s “Run on Less” event, where they traveled more miles per day on average than any other vehicle. One PepsiCo Semi in particular covered 1,076 miles (1,731km) in a single day with three fast-charging stops, showcasing not only the vehicle’s efficiency but also its potential to handle long-haul routes effectively.
The new batch of 50 Semis will boost PepsiCo’s fleet to nearly 100 electric trucks, primarily operating out of its Sacramento, California depot, where they will continue to serve city transportation and regional routes.
Tesla’s journey with the Semi has experienced long delays and large amounts of skepticism. First unveiled in 2017, the Semi was initially slated for production in 2019. However, it wasn’t until late 2022 that the first units were produced, and even then, production remained limited. After more than a year of testing the Semi with only PepsiCo, Tesla recently expanded their testing program with companies like Martin Brower, Walmart, Costco, Sysco, and US Foods.
A crucial element of the Tesla Semi’s success is the development of the Megacharger Network. These high-capacity chargers enable the Semi to achieve over 1,000 daily miles, matching the performance of diesel trucks. Tesla has already installed Megachargers at some of PepsiCo’s facilities, but the company plans to expand this network significantly. After cutting the entire Supercharger team, Priestley confirmed Elon Musk’s prior statement that Tesla will still invest over $500 million this year to enhance its Supercharging infrastructure, and that commitment extends to building out the Megacharger network.
Tesla aims to produce 50,000 Semi units annually once its Nevada production facility reaches full capacity. Tesla recently broke ground on this new facility, located next to Giga Nevada, and is expected to be up and running in 2026.
You can watch Priestley’s full interview in the video below.
