Tesla Cybercab to Use Paint-Infused Plastic Panels as Production Hiring Gets Underway

By Karan Singh
Not a Tesla App

Tesla’s autonomous robotaxi made a big impact last year at the We, Robot event in October, sparking plenty of questions about when, where, and how production would begin. Well, it looks like we finally have some answers to these questions thanks to new Cybercab-related job openings.

Engineering Roles

Tesla is actively recruiting engineers to focus on various aspects of the Cybercab’s production. One of the key positions is for an equipment engineer, responsible for developing the machinery that will be used to build the Cybercab. Designing and implementing the assembly line is crucial, especially with Tesla’s ambition to manufacture thousands of Cybercabs in the near future.

Unboxed Production Process

Tesla plans to produce the Cybercab using its revolutionary “unboxed” process, which stands in stark contrast to traditional car manufacturing methods. Unlike typical assembly lines that build vehicles from the floor up, the unboxed process involves constructing vehicle sections in parallel and bringing those parts together for final assembly. This method increases the number of engineers that can work on the vehicle at once and increases accessibility for works and robots, allowing the vehicle to be manufactured more efficiently.

Tesla shows off the unboxed process in the vehicle below:

Paint-Infused Plastic Panels

A crucial part of the Cybercab’s production will be handled by a new process engineer specializing in plastics. This engineer will focus on the exterior plastic panels, working alongside a tool & die specialist. The reason for this specialized role is likely due to the Cybercab’s unique use of paint-impregnated plastic for its exterior panels, which requires different processes and tooling than Tesla’s typical vehicle exteriors.

Tesla’s VP of Vehicle Engineering, Lars Moravy, shared that the company will be injecting polyurethane paint directly into the plastic during the manufacturing process. This method eliminates the need for a traditional paint shop, as the colors are embedded directly into the plastic while the panels are molded. The best part is that these panels are highly resilient—if they get scratched, dinged, or worn down, the original color remains visible throughout, unlike standard painted panels, which would reveal the underlying material.

Technicians

To implement these new engineering practices, Tesla is also hiring various technicians for the assembly line. These include specialists in plastics, general assembly, and the Giga Press, all of whom will play key roles in bringing the Cybercab to life.

This information was revealed in a recent episode of the Ride the Lightning podcast, where Lars discussed several exciting topics, including the upcoming refreshes for the Model S and Model X.

According to the Q4 2024 Earnings Call, the Cybercab’s assembly line is not expected to launch until late 2025 or early 2026. Building such an innovative assembly line is no small feat, and it’s clear Tesla is laying the groundwork for something special.

Tesla FSD in Europe: June Update

By Karan Singh
Not a Tesla App

The road to bringing FSD to Europe has been a long and complex one and filled with regulatory and bureaucratic hurdles. Elon Musk, as well as other members of Tesla’s AI team, have previously voiced their grievances with the regulatory approval process on X.

However, it appears that there is finally some progress in getting things moving with recent changes to upcoming autonomy regulations, but the process still seems slow.

Waiting on the Dutch

Elon commented on X recently, stating that Tesla is waiting for approval from Dutch authorities and then the EU to start rolling out FSD in Europe. Tesla is focusing on acquiring approvals from the Dutch transportation authority, which will provide them with the platform they need to gain broader acceptance in Europe. Outside of the Netherlands, Tesla is also conducting testing in Norway, which provides a couple of avenues for them to obtain national-level approval.

The frustration has been ongoing, with multiple committee meetings bringing up autonomy regulation but always pulling back at the last second before approving anything. The last meeting on Regulation 157, which governs Automated Lane Keeping Systems, concluded with authorities from the UK and Spain requesting additional time to analyze the data before reaching a conclusion.

Tesla, as well as Elon, have motioned several times for owners to reach out to their elected representatives to move the process forward, as it seems that Tesla’s own efforts are being stymied. 

This can seem odd, especially since Tesla has previously demoed FSD working exceptionally smoothly on European roads - and just did it again in Rome when they shared the video below on X.

DCAS Phase 3

While the approval process has been slow, Kees Roelandschap pointed out that there may be a different regulatory step that could allow FSD to gain a foothold in Europe.

According to Kees, the European Commission is now taking a new approach to approving ADAS systems under the new DCAS Phase 3 regulations. The Commission is now seeking data from systems currently operational in the United States that can perform System-Initiated Maneuvers and don’t require hands-on intervention for every request.

This is key because those are two of the core functionalities that make FSD so usable, and it also means that there may not be a need to wait years for proper regulations to be written from scratch. Now, the Commission will be looking at real-world data based on existing, deployed technology, which could speed up the process immensely.

What This Means

This new, data-driven regulatory approach could be the path for Tesla to reach its previous target of September for European FSD. While the cogs of bureaucracy are ever slow, sometimes all it takes is a little data to have them turn a bit faster in this case.

Alongside specific countries granting approval for limited field testing with employees, there is some light at the end of the tunnel for FSD in Europe, and hopes are that a release will occur by the end of 2025. With Europe now looking to North America for how FSD is performing, Tesla’s Robotaxi results could also play a role.

Tesla Launches 'TeslaVision' Contest With Big Prizes — See Last Year’s Winner [VIDEO]

By Karan Singh
Not a Tesla App

Tesla’s marketing has always been relatively unconventional, relying on word-of-mouth rather than traditional advertising. The passion of the owner’s community is always massive, but it is especially high now with the launch of the Robotaxi network just around the corner.

Tesla is now tapping into that spring of fan creativity and announced the TeslaVision video contest, with some seriously impressive prizes up for grabs.

The Contest

The core of the contest is simple. Create a video that shows how your Tesla gives you more in life. Tesla is looking for submissions that highlight themes of freedom, safety, fun, and convenience.

Prizes

The prizes definitely make this contest worth entering if you’re good with a camera and have some basic video editing abilities.

For North America, the prizes include a brand new Model Y AWD Long Range, alongside an all-expenses-paid trip to Austin for a tour of Giga Texas. The grand prize winner will also be able to custom order their Model Y, allowing them to select their preferred wheels and color.

The two runners-up won’t get a Model Y, but they’ll also enjoy an all-expenses-paid trip to Giga Texas for a tour of the factory.

The travel and tour include lodging in Austin for 2 nights, as well as economy-class round-trip tickets from anywhere in North America. Tesla will also provide a vehicle for use during the trip.

Hopefully, these winners will also have the opportunity to experience the Robotaxi network while they’re in Austin, as it’s expected to be opened to the public later this month.

Project Loveday

For long-time followers of Tesla, this contest may feel familiar. The contest is a direct throwback to the 2017 Project Loveday contest, which was inspired by a letter to Tesla from a 10-year-old aspiring marketer. That contest was won by MKBHD, with his submission below:

How to Enter

If you’re ready to start filming, here are the key pieces of information you’ll need to know:

  • Video must be 90 seconds or less

  • Video must be uploaded to YouTube with a public URL

  • Make a post on X and Instagram tagging “@Tesla” and include the words “TeslaVision contest” in the post.

  • Provide links to both social media posts in your submission to Tesla’s form

  • Provide your personal details in the form

  • You have until July 17th, 2025, or until Tesla receives 10,000 entries, whichever comes first.

You can find the official submission form and all region-specific details on Tesla's website.

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