The reason Tesla's production level is so high is because Tesla uses integrated die-casting technology, which compresses the construction time of Tesla's body to 45 seconds - 2 minutes.
Integrated die casting technology refers to the high integration of multiple individual, dispersed aluminum alloy parts through a large tonnage die casting machine, and then forming die casting into 1-2 large aluminum castings.
In the past, to build a Model 3 rear baseplate, more than 70 parts were stamped out, and then the welding, painting and final assembly manufacturing process was used to put these parts together and assemble them into a chassis rear baseplate. This process takes about 1-2 hours.
But Model Y, which uses all-in-one die casting technology, turns more than 70 parts into one part. Compared to the original 1-2 hours, this die casting process takes only 45 seconds - 2 minutes.
In addition to the rear baseplate, the model Y model's front and crew compartments will also use an integrated die-casting process, and these large die-castings can replace more than 370 parts.
Integrated die-casting technology, in simple terms, is the kind of button mobile phone that the mobile phone factory used to build with a clamshell to cut the battery. You need to make the snap, back cover, battery, and so on, and then assemble them by hand.
The integrated molding process can directly "create" a one-piece shell with a frame and the back cover are connected together.
Doing so can reduce the weight of the vehicle by 10%. Everyone knows what weight loss means for electric vehicles, and the battery life is directly increased by 14%.
In the past, the welding general factory of traditional car companies, the investment in a factory is about 1 billion, the same cost of this money can buy 3 super die casting machines, and the price of die casting machines will be lower in the future.
In terms of labor, the welding workshop of the mainstream automobile production plant should be equipped with 200-300 workers, and the integrated die-casting workshop only needs 20-30 workers.
And a large die casting machine covers an area of only 100 square meters, according to Musk, with a large die casting machine, the factory footprint can also be reduced by 30%.
But this technology is not perfect, just like the Tesla sewing incident that occurred in Germany before, it is because of this technology, and another reason is that the maintenance cost is extremely high, and after the collision, it is likely to change the entire body.
However, the drawbacks of this technology should be adjustable in the later stage, and other car companies have gradually used this technology.