Part 4/10:
The process of improving giga castings is rooted in engineering ingenuity. Tesla's ongoing efforts show that the design is not static; instead, engineers continuously explore enhancements, such as increasing the webbing within the structure, effectively reducing mass without compromising strength. This ongoing iteration leads to both cost savings from not needing additional machinery and an acceleration in production cycles.
Recent advancements boast a reduction in cycle time from about 180 seconds per casting to an impressive 75 seconds. This efficiency means that at Tesla’s facilities, particularly in Shanghai, a vehicle emerges from the assembly line roughly every 30 to 35 seconds, underscoring the potential scalability of larger casting technologies.