Tesla's Giga Shanghai was recently featured in an exclusive walkthrough from China’s Xinhua News Agency, providing a rare glimpse into the inner workings of the massive electric vehicle factory. As the world's largest EV market, China is a crucial hub for Tesla, and Giga Shanghai is the company's key production facility in the country.
One of the most striking features of Giga Shanghai is its "Tesla Speed." In the video, the Xinhua host is taken on a tour of the assembly lines, where he marvels at the speed and efficiency of the production process. Tesla has always been known for its innovative approach to manufacturing, and Giga Shanghai takes this to the next level.
During the tour, the Xinhua host inquired how long it currently takes to produce a Model Y from start to end. The answer was quite remarkable: from the first station to the final station, it takes about two and a half hours to finish a Tesla Model Y.
“I think from the first station to the last station, it takes about two and a half hours to finish all the stations,” the Gigafactory Shanghai employee said.
This level of efficiency is simply staggering. It is a testament to Tesla's commitment to innovation and its relentless pursuit of excellence. The company has always been focused on pushing the boundaries of what is possible, and Giga Shanghai is a perfect example of this.
But how is this level of speed and efficiency achieved? There are several factors at play here. First and foremost is Tesla's use of automation. The company has always been a pioneer in this area, and Giga Shanghai is no exception. The assembly lines are highly automated, with robots handling many of the tasks that would traditionally be done by humans. This not only speeds up the production process but also ensures a higher level of precision and consistency.
Another key factor is Tesla's focus on vertical integration. The company produces many of its own parts in-house, rather than relying on suppliers. This allows for greater control over the production process and reduces the risk of delays or quality issues.
Finally, Tesla's "lean manufacturing" approach plays a crucial role in achieving such high levels of efficiency. This approach is all about minimizing waste and optimizing every aspect of the production process. By constantly analyzing and refining the process, Tesla is able to eliminate bottlenecks and streamline operations.
Back in 2020, Herbert Diess, former CEO of VW said it takes VW 30 hours to produce a car compared to Tesla's 10 hours. And the rest of the auto industry still has'nt catch up to Tesla in that respect, and Tesla is moving to their 3rd gen manufacturing.
Regarding this point, I believe the 2.5 hours does not include cell/battery assembly. Tesla said Berlin would take 10 hours and would be their most advanced factory, this likely includes the battery, VW Diess said it takes them 30 hrs for ID3, likely also including battery assembly.
Armen Hareyan is the founder and the Editor in Chief of Torque News. He founded TorqueNews.com in 2010, which since then has been publishing expert news and analysis about the automotive industry. He can be reached at Torque News Twitter, Facebok, Linkedin and Youtube.