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A comment on Tesla posts big loss, cuts production of Models X and S to catch up on Model 3. Parent comment

Re:Tesla posts big loss, cuts production of Models X and S t... by semi-extrinsic on Thursday November 02, 2017 @03:52AM (#15608587)
That E-class production line video is interesting, it's basically the same assembly strategy Tesla uses: all bits of the engine, drivetrain, suspension etc. is assembled into a "skateboard" in one line, while the body gets fitted with all the trim, interior, doors etc. on another line and then dropped onto the skateboard (which you see from 6:30 and out in the video).

If Tesla is stuck on a battery bottleneck it's just as silly as if Mercedes were stuck on a sheet metal bottleneck. Yes, you need reliable component suppliers that can scale with you as you grow and provide the quality you need. If you don't have that, you have a big problem that vertical integration isn't going to solve.

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Re:Tesla posts big loss, cuts production of Models X and S t... by Animats on Thursday November 02, 2017 @02:44PM (#15613111)
That E-class production line video is interesting, it's basically the same assembly strategy Tesla uses: all bits of the engine, drivetrain, suspension etc. is assembled into a "skateboard" in one line, while the body gets fitted with all the trim, interior, doors etc. on another line and then dropped onto the skateboard

The Mercedes E-class is monocoque, like almost all cars. They build the body/frame and then add the powertrain and wheels. Here's the body/frame and the powertrain/suspension coming together.[1] The powertrain and suspension aren't self-supporting; they're a collection of parts held in a fixture. That's very clear in the video of the parts coming together.

The Tesla Model S, though, is body on frame. If it can sit on its wheels without a body, as the Tesla Model S can, it's body-on-frame. Here's the Tesla Model S platform sitting on its wheels, with the powertrain installed.[2]

So is the Tesla Model 3.[3]

[1] https://youtu.be/lPKnM9vC6V0?t=395 [2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8WUIkD7xxI [3] https://jalopnik.com/why-tesla-needs-to-sell-the-model-3-wit...

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Re:Tesla posts big loss, cuts production of Models X and S t... by FussyZeus on Thursday November 02, 2017 @08:54AM (#15609933)
Well that's what the redesign is meant to fix, no? Supplier can't keep pace so they're either building it in-house or they've designed something that can be supplied easier/by another vendor.
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