Anheuser-Busch pre-orders 40 Tesla Semi trucks

Thw world's largest brewer, Anheuser-Busch, said yesterday that it has placed an order for 40 Tesla Semi trucks, scheduled to be manufactured from 2019. According to commentators, the pre-order gives Tesla its largest reservations of the new truck to date.

With each reservation at a $20,000 deposit, the pre-order nets $800,000 for Tesla (assuming the beer company placed its order after Tesla hiked the deposit amount from the original price of $5,000). Also, if the trucks were to retail for around $150,000, Anheuser-Busch's bill to the automaker would work out at $6 million.

Tesla revealed the Semi last month and it has since then racked up quite a few preorders from several big-name players in shipping and logistics. (See: Tesla unveils electric semi truck, Tesla Semi)

On the day following the announcement, Walmart said it had preordered 15 trucks, while JB Hunt Transport Services said it had reserved ''multiple'' new Tesla trucks.

Others to make deposits for the truck include Ryder, DHL, and Canadian supermarket chain Loblow.

Meanwhile, veterans of the trucking industry are closely following the developments to see how Tesla addresses some of the big hurdles in its path, such as per-mile cost, patchy EV charging infrastructure, and maintenance issues.

According to commentators, for Anheuser-Busch, the Tesla Semi represents another opportunity to tout its commitment to cutting carbon emissions.

Anheuser-Busch said the Tesla Semis would form part of a 750-truck US fleet that transports products from breweries to wholesalers. The trucks would help the Belgium-based company meet its goal of cutting global carbon emissions by 30 per cent in 2025.

Though Tesla has not confirmed the number of companies that have put down deposits, Wal-Mart Stores Inc and midwest retailer Meijer Inc are among those that have placed orders, Associated Press reports.