Bite Squad, the Minneapolis-based restaurant delivery service that now operates in 30 markets around the country, hopes to swap out its current fleet of several hundred Toyota Priuses for Tesla Model 3s. It plans to test a handful of 3s on the road in its home base of Minneapolis this fall.

Company-owned vehicles account for about 10 percent of Bite Squad’s fleet.

“We think it could be a big game-changer for us in terms of cost and liability and safety,” said VP of Marketing Craig Key, noting that the Model 3 is similar in price to a Prius, but would save the company on fuel and maintenance costs. Bite Squad also hopes Tesla’s assisted driving technology will lead to fewer accidents.

Full self-driving capability would be very appealing to a delivery firm such as Bite Squad, but Key expects that to take a few years. “Everyone is wondering when are the drones going to take the Pad Thai to their doorstep,” he said. “We’re not there yet. That’s not in the short-term future for us.”

In the meantime, Bite Squad is hoping its Model 3s will be delivered by early this fall after placing its reservation for them late last year. “We’re waiting on our order still,” said Key. “We’re at Tesla’s mercy like everybody else.”

Source: StarTribune