Illustration: Eniola Odetunde/Axios
French automaker Renault yesterday completed deliveries for Coca-Cola with a fleet of electric trucks, jumping ahead of Tesla's own agreement with Pepsi.
Why it matters: Trucks are among the most challenging sectors to electrify. Renault's delivery is a significant victory for the company and it sets the automaker apart from peers — namely Elon Musk's attempt to bring electric trucks to market.
What's happening: Renault's "E-Tech" electric trucks began making deliveries Sunday for Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, which is Coca-Cola’s biggest bottler by revenue.
- The first five "D" models — the "D" and the "D Wide" — hit the road over the weekend. Another 25 will soon follow, part of the company's more than $7 million investment.
Meanwhile: Tesla's Semi models for Pepsi aren't expected to launch until at least Dec. 1., after a slow rollout.
- The delay has been both a sore subject for Tesla and the subject of a commercial that aired in October.