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Chris Lane is the chief marketing officer of Airfield Supply Co., a cannabis dispensary in San Jose, California. Its name is derived from the company’s proximity to the San Jose International Airport. Its motto is “High Is A Place.”
The company is thriving in the Silicon Valley, where marijuana delivery is a competitive segment of the business community. Airfield Supply also recently determined it can more efficiently deliver its product. It added six Tesla Model 3s to its delivery fleet.
Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia talk with Lane about the cannabis industry in the Silicon Valley and the Airfield’s decision to utilize the electric sports car in its business.
With sales increasing during the COVID-19 pandemic, Airfield’s delivery capabilities are a new benchmark across the industry, the company notes.
Cannabis Delivery In Style — Tesla
According to industry reports, Silicon Valley has had a 400 percent increase in marijuana deliveries since the pandemic began.
“The Tesla fleet is an investment that will in time pay for itself and considering that with future updates pushed directly to the vehicle, the Model 3 will only become more sustainable over time,” said company CEO Marc Matulich. “This is really central to who we are.”
Lane, who discussed regulations of cannabis delivery vehicles, noted the efficiency of the Teslas in the company fleet. Airfield says it saves about $10,000 per Tesla annually or $60,000 per year compared to gasoline vehicles.
“We’ve expanded our delivery program, reduced prices and minimum ordering costs in order to be a better neighbor to our customers and to make it just that much more affordable and convenient for everyone,” Matulich said.
The six Teslas are outfitted with GPS devices for San Jose police to track them, as required by the city’s regulations, in addition to lockable containers and front and rear dash security cameras.
“Using smartphones, customers can now pre-pay for pickup and delivery of cannabis purchases, allowing for 100 percent secure, one-click transaction processes that decrease wait times as well as the spread of germs,” said Matulich.
Lane also discusses customers’ reactions to their orders being delivered in Teslas.
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Article Last Updated: December 1, 2020.
- About the Author
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A sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004.
In addition to founding this site in 2004, James writes a Sunday automotive column for The San Jose Mercury and East Bay Times in Walnut Creek, Calif., and monthly auto review and wellness columns for Gulfshore Business, a magazine in Southwest Florida.
An author and contributor to many newspapers, magazines and online publications, co-hosted The Weekly Driver Podcast from 2017 to 2024.
