Tesla's gigacast greatly reduces parts, welds and vehicle production time
Tesla
New insights into Tesla's manufacturing innovations have emerged, suggesting the automaker is not just nearing but actively implementing groundbreaking advancements in its gigacasting technology. Reports from the Shanghai Securities News and posts from X.com user @zhongwen2005 unveil Tesla's successful adoption of an upgraded gigacasting process at its Shanghai Giga Factory, focusing primarily on the Model Y's rear bottom plate assembly system.
This revelation is a pivotal update to earlier reports, indicating that Tesla is realizing its commitment to unboxed manufacturing and is on the brink of revolutionizing vehicle production. The upgraded gigacasting technology allows the die-casting of almost the entire complex underbody of an electric vehicle in one piece, significantly reducing production costs and assembly components.
New Technology Now in Use
According to the new information, the application of this integrated die-casting technology has led to a remarkable 40% reduction in related production costs and over 10% weight savings compared to traditional methods. These advancements are especially pertinent as Tesla explores manufacturing possibilities for its forthcoming $25,000 car, which presents an ideal opportunity to deploy this one-piece casting innovation.
Tesla's pioneering approach, involving 3D printing, industrial sand, and the development of specialized alloys, is further fine-tuned with the introduction of version 2.0 of its integrated die-casting technology. The amalgamation of rapid prototyping, material innovation, and advanced casting techniques underscores Tesla's relentless pursuit of manufacturing excellence, setting the stage for a large-scale manufacturing evolution.
This strategic shift and technological progression are aligned with the insights shared in Walter Isaacson's biography of Elon Musk, depicting a transition in Tesla's operational hubs. The Giga Texas facility emerges as a focal point for the development and perfection of this next-generation EV platform, with Giga Mexico anticipating the subsequent housing of the new technology.
The Competition is Playing Catch-up
As the electric vehicle market grows increasingly competitive, such innovations are crucial. The upgraded gigacasting technology places Tesla at the forefront of manufacturing efficiency and sets a precedent for other manufacturers. Toyota recently unveiled its own gigapress, and Chinese EV makers, including Xpeng and Geely's Zeekr, are adopting gigapressing technology to decrease vehicle weight and cut costs.
As Tesla continues to refine and implement its upgraded gigacasting technology, the company is not merely taking a step but making a significant leap toward redefining automotive manufacturing. The integration of this advanced technology at its Shanghai plant illustrates the tangible strides Tesla is making in realizing Elon Musk's vision of halving production costs and making electric vehicles more affordable and accessible.
The latest developments confirm that a transformative moment in EV manufacturing is not just on the horizon but actively unfolding. Tesla's commitment to innovation and the successful application of upgraded gigacasting technology underscore its position as a leader in the automotive industry, driving towards a future where electric vehicles are increasingly revolutionary and attainable.
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The greatly anticipated FSD v12.4 is around the corner, with Elon Musk mentioning that it will be going to employees this weekend, with limited external testers next week.
Several significant improvements are coming with V12.4, which is being compared to the leap in performance that was previously seen between V12 and V11.
Improved Comfort and Reduced Interventions
There are quite a few improvements expected with V12.4, which Musk has said will be focused on user comfort by reducing hard accelerations and sudden braking. According to Musk, FSD v12.4 is also expected to have a 5-10x improvement in time between user interventions, which means that Tesla is rapidly approaching its goal for the Robotaxi announcement on August 8, 2024.
Steering Wheel Nag Removal
FSD V12.4 is expected to eliminate the steering wheel nag, as Musk confirmed its removal last week. The camera-based driver monitoring system will be taking over, providing a hands-free experience. These improvements will most likely benefit owners who have cabin cameras with infrared lights the most, while Tesla may continue to use steering wheel nag as a fallback mechanism.
Driverless Autopark
The second key feature that may be included in v12.4 will be Banish Autopark, previously known as Reverse Summon, allowing you to choose a parking spot, exit the vehicle and have the car park itself. Whether this feature makes it in v12.4 is yet to be seen, but Musk has mentioned that parking without a driver is coming soon.
Automatically Seek Parking Spot at Destination
Finally, your Tesla will now traverse a parking lot and automatically enter Autopark mode when arriving at a destination, according to a post from Musk.
Eligibility and Branch
Tesla recently added FSD v12.3.6 to the 2024.14 branch with updates 2024.14.5 and 2024.14.6. This makes it very likely that Tesla’s next FSD version will also be based on 2024.14, meaning that it will be available to any vehicle on 2024.14.x.
For users on update 2024.3.25, this means that they’ll receive all of the features included in updates 2024.8 and 2024.14, which should make it a massive update.
Release Date
Musk has mentioned that FSD V12.4 is going out to employee vehicles for internal testing this weekend, with external testing starting next week. The rollouts typically go slower than predicted but looks like we may see this begin shipping to customers by the end of the month.
Today, as part of a broader change of tariff rates on Chinese goods, U.S. President Joe Biden announced that he’ll raise tariffs on electric vehicles imported from China, increasing the rate from 25% to 100%, effective this year.
This increase won’t just impact the import of vehicles, but also the rate for lithium-ion batteries produced in China, which will be moving from 7.5% to 25%.
Impact on Competition
The immediate impact of this new regulation is significant for Chinese manufacturers, who have been regarded as Tesla’s largest and greatest competition. Given the tariff hike, this means that new Chinese manufacturers, such as Nio, XPeng, or BYD, will either need to set up production in North America, or be subject to the increased import tariff.
Nio’s vehicles cost between $40,000 USD to $70,000 USD in China based on today’s conversion rates, and with an import tariff of 100%, an imported vehicle’s price would be doubled to $80,000 USD to $140,000 USD, not including other fees. Chinese manufacturers will have to closely weigh the advantages and disadvantages of opening up the North American market, with challenges including vehicle homologation, new tariffs, and a difficult EV market.
Tesla and Chinese Tariffs
Elon Musk recently visited China, engaging with officials to build a foundation for what is currently the world’s largest electric vehicle market. With the potential import of Chinese EVs becoming restricted to the United States, this places Tesla in an advantageous position over its Chinese competitors who have yet to establish their brands in North America.
On the other hand, this could also impact Tesla, as they import Chinese batteries for usage in some vehicles in the United States.
Tesla does not import Gigafactory Shanghai vehicles to the US, but has been increasing North American battery production lately, with expansions in Lathrop, California and a new facility in Sparks, Nevada.
Canadian Tariffs
In Canada, the Model 3 and Model Y are currently being imported from Gigafactory Shanghai. Given Canada’s close following of US foreign policy, this could impact either the prices of Tesla vehicles in Canada or have Tesla shipping vehicles from Fremont and Texas to the United States once again, should Canada also adopt a similar tariff policy.
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