Tesla buys unknown number of trucking companies to speed up deliveries
Tesla founder Elon Musk says that he has made major acquisitions in trucking in order to ease the “delivery logistics hell” of getting customers their Model 3s on time.
On Thursday, November 15, Musk announced via tweet that he had “acquired trucking capacity” in order to ensure that customers would receive delivery of the Model 3 before the end of the year.
Tesla just acquired trucking capacity to ensure Model 3 can be delivered in US by Dec 31 if ordered by Nov 30 https://t.co/npmPuSXNWC
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 15, 2018
Musk elaborated:
“We bought some trucking companies & secured contracts with major haulers to avoid trucking shortage mistake of last quarter.”
It isn’t clear what trucking companies Musk has bought or partnered with, but TechCrunch speculates that Tesla has likely purchased at least one smaller trucking company that it has worked with in the past.
Model 3s ordered prior to the end of the year will likely still qualify for a $7,500 federal tax credit, which is spurring many customers to order now.
Musk also noted that he preferred trucks over rail for delivery: “Skipping rail saves over a month for East Coast deliveries. All things considered, it’s better to use trucks. Single load/unload & direct to owner location.”
Earlier this year, Musk puzzled many members of the trucking community by blaming Model 3 delivery delays on an “extreme shortage” of car carrier trailers. Musk even went so far as to say that Tesla would start manufacturing car carrier trailers in order to speed up distribution.
No shortage of car carrier trailers, says head of auto haulers group. If you know a car hauler who hasn’t been paid, please have them contact me. https://t.co/zTy7H7iEgl pic.twitter.com/ApgrR7I1gW
— Russ Mitchell (@russ1mitchell) September 26, 2018