Pickle Robot, a Charlestown, Massachusetts-based company specializing in autonomous unloading robots for warehouses and distribution centers, has announced the appointment of Jeff Evanson, a former Tesla executive, as its first Chief Financial Officer. This strategic hire comes on the heels of reports detailing a significant expansion of its partnership with shipping giant UPS.
Evanson, who has been consulting for Pickle Robot since September and recently joined full-time, brings extensive financial expertise from his tenure at Tesla. From 2011 to 2017, he served as the vice president of global investor relations and strategy at the electric vehicle pioneer. In this capacity, Evanson worked directly with CEO Elon Musk, playing a crucial role in securing debt and equity financing that supported the launch of multiple Tesla vehicle lines and strategic acquisitions.
His appointment as Pickle Robot's inaugural CFO coincides with a period of significant growth for the company, founded in 2018 with approximately $100 million in venture capital raised. Reports from Bloomberg indicate that UPS is set to invest $120 million to acquire 400 of Pickle's autonomous robots, with deployment anticipated to begin in late 2026 and early 2027. This expansion underscores the growing demand for automation solutions in the logistics sector.
While Pickle Robot declined to comment directly on the recent UPS news, a company spokesperson confirmed that UPS has been a customer for several years. However, the spokesperson did not disclose the exact commencement date of their partnership.
