After several years of bearish predictions by Wall Street, Elon Musk has taken a cheeky approach to settling the score. In 2018 he vowed to send “short shorts” as an ironic jab in response to hedge fund manager David Einhorn’s negative views on Tesla stock. Two years later, the company went further and listed satin trunks for sale – just for laughs! At last year’s Model Y unveiling event, Musk fired back at critics with his signature wit: “You can drive that fraud” was his defiant retort against those who had previously disparaged him and Tesla Motors in saying that he was a fraud.
Musk’s latest retorts have to do with the Semi, which has been five years in the making. “Some people have said this was impossible,” Musk said during a Semi manufacturing event in Nevada last month. “But, uh, you can drive it.”
Tesla achieved a major victory this January, delivering 15 of its Semis to PepsiCo for use at their Frito-Lay facility in Modesto. As part of the festivities that followed, Tesla announced an enormous investment into expanding and building battery cells within their existing factory near Reno – securing $3.6 billion towards the cause.
Tesla shares are continuing to rise with milestones like their delivery of 15 electric Semi trucks to PepsiCo. This $30.8 million project was partially funded by California’s Air Resources Board and despite this success, uncertainty remains as one wonders what kind of impact these Semis will have on the company’s bottom line moving forward.
A half decade after Tesla first announced their Semi truck model, questions remain about the cost and availability of the vehicle. Last month’s quarterly production report made no mention of it- further adding to speculation surrounding this electric semi that is said to be in pilot production according to last week’s earnings deck presentation by CEO Elon Musk. With volumes set for next year and little other information shared during an earnings call on what could shape up transport logistics with its potential acceleration speeds, many are left wondering how much they will actually see the Electric Big Rig roaring down America’s highways.
As sightings of the Semis on the side of the road in Sacramento or getting towed from a Nevada highway pop up, debates have been sparked among the Tesla community and beyond. These incidents have created an uproar among followers who remain divided on their opinions of Elon Musk’s recent innovation. With each side adamant about their stance, social media networks offer a glimpse into what is becoming an increasingly heated conversation.
Tesla’s Semi had already drawn some doubt before recent incidents, with analysts at RBC Capital Markets expressing skepticism in December that Elon Musk could deliver a production of 50,000 trucks by 2024 – instead modeling for just 4,000.
The clamor for electric trucks is growing louder and PepsiCo’s Frito-Lay facility in Modesto, California will soon be a shining example of sustainability. Covering an impressive 500,000 square feet, this eco-friendly production hub has the potential to greatly reduce air pollution levels while also decreasing asthma cases within the region. Tesla and other manufacturers have heeded these pressing needs – now all that remains are results.
On March 1st, Tesla CEO Elon Musk is set to launch an ambitious plan for a sustainable energy future on Earth. Promising insights into how companies such as PepsiCo and cities worldwide can decarbonize their operations. Musk has said that the master plan he will deliver at this time will chart “the path to a fully sustainable energy future for Earth.”
Source: ttnews
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