Cost To Build a Tesla Model 3 Is $28,000, German Engineers Say (www.wiwo.de)
Rei writes: An interesting report came out the other day from Germany, where an engineering firm purchased four Tesla Model 3s on the grey market to study on behalf of an anonymous major German auto manufacturer. Among their key findings: due in part to a huge reduction in cobalt in the batteries (2.8% in the cathodes versus a typical 8%) and a number of simplifications, the parts cost of a Model 3 (in units of 10,000 vehicles per week) is estimated at $18,000, along with $10,000 in production costs. Note that the teardown was for the long-range version with the premium upgrades package.
On Reddit, users with access to the full report added further details. The 75kWh battery is 40% of the components cost ($7,200); the interior is completely symmetric (facilitating RHD); there are only 4 kinds of screws used in the underbody (a typical German luxury manufacturer uses 40); many parts of the car are designed specifically so as to be easier for robots to grab; and the battery pack is harder to remove than on the S/X (e.g. not battery swap capable). After studying the individual components, they concluded that German EV manufacturers would not be capable of producing a similar vehicle at this point in time. Asked on Twitter whether Musk agreed with their price conclusions at a rate of 10,000 vehicles per week, Musk replied: "Definitely." That said, Tesla is still in the process of moving from 3,500 to 5,000-6,000 per week by the end of this quarter, and is not expected to reach 10,000 vehicles per week until next year.
On Reddit, users with access to the full report added further details. The 75kWh battery is 40% of the components cost ($7,200); the interior is completely symmetric (facilitating RHD); there are only 4 kinds of screws used in the underbody (a typical German luxury manufacturer uses 40); many parts of the car are designed specifically so as to be easier for robots to grab; and the battery pack is harder to remove than on the S/X (e.g. not battery swap capable). After studying the individual components, they concluded that German EV manufacturers would not be capable of producing a similar vehicle at this point in time. Asked on Twitter whether Musk agreed with their price conclusions at a rate of 10,000 vehicles per week, Musk replied: "Definitely." That said, Tesla is still in the process of moving from 3,500 to 5,000-6,000 per week by the end of this quarter, and is not expected to reach 10,000 vehicles per week until next year.
Learned this in my first econ class ever.
"double your price of whatever you make it for. You will make money. We have all these formulas and tricks to tell us what it should do but we have no idea. 2x just works".
The class then ran dozens of simulations. The guy was right.
I think you are confusing model 3 with model S. Model 3 is the 35k to 44k car. In fact the germans are saying that they cannot current meet how good the price is on the model 3, its not fud, it is the opposite.
When you cant win, ad hominem.
Consider the "component" cost of the tesla. Well that's to purchase the components. But of course those "components" were someone elses product and they in turn had component costs and production costs for that. And so on all the way down to "ore" and water before they are even taken out of the earth.
SO if you really stated the "component" cost versus production cost I think you might find it's almost all production cost.
Now imagine what happens when we make robots that can make custom manucaturing robots.
Then there's no production costs. (the robots make robots that mine and refine the ore to make more robots.)
Suddenly EVERYTHING is cheap. Rediculously cheap.
Yes were a long way from that. But not so far in the grand scheme. Maybe four or five generations. Then it's all free.
Some drink at the fountain of knowledge. Others just gargle.
Even standard fasteners can be a major pain. I had a 70s Honda motorcycle that I was able to pick up salvaged, it was my first motorcycle that I ever bought. ALL the engine bolts were stripped. They use #3 Phillips heads on most of the engine, however most people are only familiar with #2. Because of this, most older hondas engine bolts got stripped like well paid escorts. Incidentally, that was when I also learned the trick of hammering a flat blade screwdriver, or chisel, into the side of the fastner, turning it at an angle, then impacting it in the direction to loosen it.