Tesla "Unboxed" Assembly Technique for New $25k Model

[mschmit]

@albaby1

Part of me suspects that this may be Musk trying to solve for what caused such problems at Fremont (when they had to stick lines in the parking lot under a tent), and not a general issue that automakers face a lot. But maybe? Does anyone know?

I thought that the tent (at least the first one) was an entirely new assembly line to just increase throughput

Tesla CEO: New “tent” assembly line is “way better” than conventional factory

Mike

[albaby1]

@mschmit

I thought that the tent (at least the first one) was an entirely new assembly line to just increase throughput

Yes. The factory building wasn’t large enough to fit the new line inside of it, so they put the line in a temporary structure. Fremont was very space constrained for what they were trying to do at that time - so in that specific context, a manufacturing method that reduced the footprint of assembly by 40% (or whatever) would be incredibly useful. But is that generally a problem for auto manufacturers, so that solving for footprint (instead of cost, time, or labor) is a really relevant thing?