Photo: VERONIQUE DUPONT/AFP (Getty).
When they’re not sending cease-and-desist letters using town criers, Anheuser-Busch is looking to put themselves among the technologically advanced in the beer industry. They’re so into the idea of staying ahead with tech, they’re jumping on the automated vehicle trend before everyone else.
On Thursday, the brewer announced that it placed an order for 40 semi-trucks from Tesla, the company that makes those sedans with dashboards that look like iPads. The trucks will have autonomous driving capabilities, making them the closest thing to having Optimus Prime bringing Bud Lights to your local grocery store.
Anheuser-Busch Ordered 40 Self-Driving Beer Delivery Trucks
The move was part of the company’s commitment to improving road safety and reducing carbon emissions by 30 percent by 2025. More beer = greener Earth. I can dig it.
“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.
“We can’t wait to get these trucks on the road, and keep leading our industry forward to a greener, smarter future in partnership with some of the world’s most innovative companies,” said Mr. Sembrot. “The transportation industry is evolving fast, and we’re really excited to play a leadership role in driving this evolution by integrating these new technologies across our network.”
These Tesla trucks are going to be 100 percent electric and their addition to the Anheuser-Busch fleet is the equivalent of removing nearly 500,000 cars from the road globally each year. That’s a big step for leaving a small carbon footprint, amirite?
While this sounds cool and all, one has to question the safety concerns surrounding an autonomous semi-truck. Without a human element reacting to the road, won’t that lead to more crashes?
You know what? Never mind.
h/t Anheuser-Busch
