UK’s electric car boom slashes costs

Exciting news in the electric vehicle (EV) industry! Tesla has developed a revolutionary production technology that could revolutionise the manufacturing process for EVs across the board. This breakthrough could potentially lead to a significant reduction in the cost of EVs, making them more accessible to a wider range of consumers.

Tesla’s Global Automotive Modular Evolution (GAME) manufacturing approach, also known as the unboxing process, is changing the game in the car sector. By using giant castings to build cars and then assembling them in modules, Tesla has created a production process that is not only more efficient but also more cost-effective than traditional methods.

Owen Edwards, head of downstream automotive at Grant Thornton UK LLP, highlighted the advantages of Tesla’s GAME process in a recent column for Cox Automotive’s Insight Quarterly. He explained how this new approach eliminates over 100 stamping and welding steps in the production process, resulting in a reduction in weight and cost.

One of the key innovations in Tesla’s production process is the use of gigacasting/megacasting at the front and rear of the vehicle. This allows Tesla to manufacture independent modules that can be easily assembled at a central plant. The streamlined production has already led to cost savings for the Model Y and could play a crucial role in the upcoming Model 2 low-cost electric SUV, expected to be priced around $25,000 (£19,472).

But Tesla is not the only player in the game. Other car manufacturers are now taking notice and exploring the possibility of adopting similar manufacturing techniques. Companies like Volvo, Volkswagen Group, Toyota, Hyundai, Ford, and Chinese brand Nio are already looking into implementing Tesla’s gigacasting process in their own production lines.

Philip Nothard, Insight Director at Cox Automotive, praised Tesla’s GAME process as an innovative way to reduce manufacturing costs. He believes that initiatives like this are essential in making EVs more affordable for consumers, ultimately leading to price parity with internal combustion engine vehicles.

This technological breakthrough has the potential to reshape the EV industry and accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles. As more manufacturers embrace innovative manufacturing processes like Tesla’s GAME approach, we could soon see a future where EVs are not only environmentally friendly but also cost-effective and accessible to all.