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Kia reveals bold Sonet compact SUV concept, India launch in second half 2020

Kia Motors India, which today introduced two new products – Carnival MPV and Seltos X-Line Concept – for the Indian market at the Auto Expo 2020 . unveiled the new Sonet concept at the show. The Kia Sonet, unveiled for the first time ever, previews a future global compact SUV from the brand. The concept… Continue reading Kia reveals bold Sonet compact SUV concept, India launch in second half 2020

GM rolls back ‘radical’ plan to offer only 3-cylinder engines in some China cars -sources

BEIJING (Reuters) – General Motors (GM.N) is backtracking on an aggressive promotion of three-cylinder engines in China that saw some Buick and Chevrolet models offered only in that option – a move which proved highly unpopular and helped sales slide, people familiar with matter said. FILE PHOTO: The GM logo is seen in Warren, Michigan,… Continue reading GM rolls back ‘radical’ plan to offer only 3-cylinder engines in some China cars -sources

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Maruti Suzuki Futuro-e concept previews future Creta rival

Auto Expo 2020 has got off to a flying start, with the unveiling of the Maruti Suzuki Futuro-e concept. Deemed a design study, the radical Futuro-e showcases the styling future Maruti models are likely to employ. Importantly, the Futuro-e is also a statement of intent from Maruti to enter the midsize SUV segment. Designed by… Continue reading Maruti Suzuki Futuro-e concept previews future Creta rival

After bumpy SE Asia ride, e-scooter startup Neuron Mobility chases growth in Australia, NZ

In Singapore, we are looking to double our reporting team by this year-end to comprehensively cover the fast-moving world of funded startups and VC, PE & M&A deals. We want reporters who can tell our readers what is really happening in these sectors and why it matters to markets, companies and consumers. The ability to… Continue reading After bumpy SE Asia ride, e-scooter startup Neuron Mobility chases growth in Australia, NZ

A Behind-The-Scenes Look At Amazon’s Upcoming Rivian Electric Van

It’s no surprise that Amazon is counting on a massive fleet of all-electric delivery vans from startup automaker Rivian, manufacturer of the upcoming R1T all-electric pickup truck and R1S three-row SUV. However, thus far, there hasn’t been a whole lot of information to go along with reports that Amazon pre-ordered 100,000 vans. Today, Amazon published… Continue reading A Behind-The-Scenes Look At Amazon’s Upcoming Rivian Electric Van

A Tesla Model 3 Goes From Rolled Aluminum To A Finished Vehicle In 48 Hours

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Published on January 31st, 2020 |

by Kyle Field

A Tesla Model 3 Goes From Rolled Aluminum To A Finished Vehicle In 48 Hours

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January 31st, 2020 by Kyle Field

Tesla takes raw sheets of rolled aluminum and turns them, along with hundreds of other parts, into finished vehicles at its factory in Fremont, California, in less than 48 hours.

Screen capture from: Third Row Tesla Podcast

The insight came from one of the longest interviews Elon Musk has ever given, which was with the crew from the Third Row Tesla podcast (Apple, Stitcher, Spotify, Twitter, YouTube, Podbay), with a special bonus appearance from Elon’s brother and fellow Tesla board member and cofounder Kimbal Musk. Their mother, Maye Musk, was also present and occasionally chimed in from an adjoining room. The combined effect was a very personal, insightful two-part interview (so far) that delved into the more human side of Elon.

On the manufacturing front, Kimbal was the one who broached the subject. “What I find amazing is from start to finish, a car is made in 48 hours,” Kimbal said. He talked about the reels of aluminum stock that Tesla uses in its stamping press to form body panels and how the company turns jumbles of parts and raw materials into fully formed vehicles in less than 48 hours. “You can see the rolled aluminum in one section of the factory and you can see the cars coming out the other end.”

Body parts come off of Tesla’s stamping press at its Fremont Factory. Image credit: Kyle Field | CleanTechnica

“You don’t appreciate when you’re driving a car how much goes into the level of detail,” Kimbal continued.

In a Tesla Model 3, there are 10,000 unique parts in every vehicle, according to Elon Musk. “The pack alone is several thousand cells,” he said. Assembling all of those parts with as close to a zero failure rate as possible is hard to imagine for folks who have not lived it firsthand.

That’s why automation seemed like the obvious solution to Tesla when it came time to build the “affordable” Model 3. Installing robots that don’t mind doing the same task over and over thousands of times per day with unparalleled precision was part of the plan from day 1.

“Manufacturing is insanely difficult. It’s under-appreciated in its difficulty,” Elon said. After installing robots on the Model 3 production and assembly lines, Tesla had to walk it back a bit to strike the ideal balance.

Kimbal unpacked the journey more, noting that, “skills are changing as things become a little bit … there’s more autonomy, but autonomy isn’t perfect, so you do need to have a lot of people there. These cars have to be perfect.” It took Tesla a solid 12 months of living through what Elon called “production hell” to work through all the bugs in Tesla’s first real deep dive into building and streamlining the mass manufacturing process.

Screen capture from: Third Row Tesla Podcast

The process included the integration of Tesla’s own operating system into the human-machine interfaces (HMIs) of the equipment in the factory. Tesla’s ability to master and actively develop new manufacturing processes in the physical world with new equipment and in the digital world with custom software continues to be a significant advantage. The advantage stretches beyond just the automotive world and into the broader landscape of manufacturing companies, as other companies that build products don’t also design and program the equipment to build them at this scale.

“Given how much complexity is in a car, it’s remarkable they cost as little as they do,” Elon said.

If you haven’t watched it yet, part two of the podcast gives an exciting look behind the scenes of Elon’s life and the world of Tesla.

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About the Author

Kyle Field I'm a tech geek passionately in search of actionable ways to reduce the negative impact my life has on the planet, save money and reduce stress. Live intentionally, make conscious decisions, love more, act responsibly, play. The more you know, the less you need. TSLA investor.

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