[Evan1]

Supposedly the image featured below is that of the entry-level Tesla rumored to be revealed early next month. The model is also said to not only cost (starting) $25,000 but be the workhorse model Elon wants as a "robotaxi".
The owner has the ability to lend his/her car to for others to use as a taxi. What's unique is that the driver will be the car itself. Also, this model will be completely made by the Giga Press as a solid unit---think Matchbox car manufacturing that will use fewer parts and save hours of assembly time thus driving down costs. It is also rumored that it will be stamped out in a new Mexican facility or in Canada for North America. China will build for other markets. Plus this model might come in other variants. As they say, seeing is believing. Let's see what transpires.

 

[Steverino]

As they say, seeing is believing. Let's see what transpires.

Words to live by when it comes to Tesla, especially delivery dates...

 

[Andre YUL]

Maybe it will be on the road before the Cybertruck 😉

On a more serious note, as much as I personally like small cars and live in a province/city where they are more popular, I imagine such a model is more likely to arrive in Europe or Asia before North America.

If VW thought small electric cars would sell outside of Toronto, Montreal and New York City, they'd be selling the ID.3 in North America.

 

[Steverino]

The GM Spark EV and Bolt EV are Euro-sized. Indeed, the Bolt was sold in Europe as the Opel Ampera-e. We could see GM deliver a compact "space wagon" with a 50 mph battery pack, though it's not been announced. Honda and Toyota have both sold compact cars in North America, so there is a market, but it's maybe not a big interest. Given current battery production costs making money on these entry level cars will be tough if not impossible.

The owner has the ability to lend his/her car to for others to use as a taxi. What's unique is that the driver will be the car itself.

We've heard this line before from Musk, Evan. I think by now, owners of the $15k FSD upgrade were supposed to be pulling in big revenue from renting their Teslas as autonomous taxi's. Waymo and Cruise Automation are in the early stages of offering ride-share, but I think Musk like to sell this dream to keep the $15k orders coming. It's perpetually just around the corner. Someday it may be realized, but until then you are buying a dream.

Also, this model will be completely made by the Giga Press as a solid unit---think Matchbox car manufacturing that will use fewer parts and save hours of assembly time thus driving down costs.

Completely, or just certain portions? Completely to me means the entire under carriage, fenders, etc. comes out finished, san's windows, wiring, seats...

Parts of the under-carriage for sure. Injection molding the entire car is a stretch.

"Critics say the process poses quality and flexibility risks, as a single flaw can compromise a whole module, and make fixing more difficult if something goes wrong.

But with the industry struggling to preserve profit margins amid surging raw materials prices, carmakers including Toyota, General Motors, Hyundai, Volvo Cars and Chinese electric vehicle startup Nio are turning to companies like IDRA for help."

"Front and rear underbodies cast by gigapresses are now combined with battery packs to form a three-piece chassis for BEVs. Yet not all automakers are convinced, and EFESO's Bechmann cautioned that large module die casting required product design to be "super solid.

"Fixing design flaws is much easier with a body made up of several small parts rather than a single module," he said.

"I bet 80% of automakers will use gigapresses by 2035, at least for BEV cars based on new platforms," Ferrario said. "But the real question is: will we need even bigger gigapresses?"

https://www.iol.co.za/motoring/industry-news/ever-heard-of-a-gigapress-these-giant-die-casts-could-reshape-car-manufacturing-ea96f69a-a2cc-5be0-94c0-837aaf4a9342

 

[Andre YUL]

Honda and Toyota have both sold compact cars in North America

"Have" is the appropriate verb tense. Where are the Toyota Yaris and Honda Fit now?

 

[Steverino]

Where are the Toyota Yaris and Honda Fit now?

Outside North America, Andre. I liked the Honda Fit styling and price and cargo space. But sales had peaked and were heading south in a big way when Honda pulled the plug. People are buying monster trucks or SUV's partly to feel safe, partly as a lifestyle statement. I have a sister-in-law who is very short, she will not buy a small car, she wants to be high off the ground.

Lots of people buy a truck who rarely if ever need a truck. I don't get it, but that's what the market is saying.

 

[Evan1]

The GM Spark EV and Bolt EV are Euro-sized. Indeed, the Bolt was sold in Europe as the Opel Ampera-e. We could see GM deliver a compact "space wagon" with a 50 mph battery pack, though it's not been announced. Honda and Toyota have both sold compact cars in North America, so there is a market, but it's maybe not a big interest. Given current battery production costs making money on these entry level cars will be tough if not impossible.



We've heard this line before from Musk, Evan. I think by now, owners of the $15k FSD upgrade were supposed to be pulling in big revenue from renting their Teslas as autonomous taxi's. Waymo and Cruise Automation are in the early stages of offering ride-share, but I think Musk like to sell this dream to keep the $15k orders coming. It's perpetually just around the corner. Someday it may be realized, but until then you are buying a dream.



Completely, or just certain portions? Completely to me means the entire under carriage, fenders, etc. comes out finished, san's windows, wiring, seats...

Parts of the under-carriage for sure. Injection molding the entire car is a stretch.

"Critics say the process poses quality and flexibility risks, as a single flaw can compromise a whole module, and make fixing more difficult if something goes wrong.

But with the industry struggling to preserve profit margins amid surging raw materials prices, carmakers including Toyota, General Motors, Hyundai, Volvo Cars and Chinese electric vehicle startup Nio are turning to companies like IDRA for help."

"Front and rear underbodies cast by gigapresses are now combined with battery packs to form a three-piece chassis for BEVs. Yet not all automakers are convinced, and EFESO's Bechmann cautioned that large module die casting required product design to be "super solid.

"Fixing design flaws is much easier with a body made up of several small parts rather than a single module," he said.

"I bet 80% of automakers will use gigapresses by 2035, at least for BEV cars based on new platforms," Ferrario said. "But the real question is: will we need even bigger gigapresses?"

https://www.iol.co.za/motoring/industry-news/ever-heard-of-a-gigapress-these-giant-die-casts-could-reshape-car-manufacturing-ea96f69a-a2cc-5be0-94c0-837aaf4a9342

I have not been to the factory to inspect every critical inch but from an engineering perspective, it's largely the shell itself with possible undercarriage components all integrated. Perhaps future revisions will provide structural inserts for interior components. Yes, IDRA will also work with NIO and possibly others.

The Cybertruck Giga Press is much larger in size and pressure capacity than earlier presses.

 

[Evan1]

It has been reported that another Giga Factory will be built in North America this time in Mexico. My bet is that the small Tesla model we've been talking about in this tread (no official name) will be built there. Tesla will join Ford(Mauch E), GM (Blazer EV/EQ EV) BMW (the Neu Klass EV) in building EVs cars in Mexico.

 

[Evan1]

 

[Steverino]

Was Musk intentionally being vague about this car yesterday because his past delivery date predictions have been so bad, or because he's very close to releasing and wants it to be a surprise? Hard to say. If the Model ? is to be built in Mexico, then it's probably 2 years away (or more?). So 2025-2026 -ish.

 

[Evan1]

Was Musk intentionally being vague about this car yesterday because his past delivery date predictions have been so bad, or because he's very close to releasing and wants it to be a surprise? Hard to say. If the Model ? is to be built in Mexico, then it's probably 2 years away (or more?). So 2025-2026 -ish.

It's hard to say. At first, I thought the future Mexican facility was for the sub-Model 3 but after watching the presentation they seemed to imply that Giga Texas is flexible to manufacture any model. I don't think Freemont is large enough to handle the Cyber Truck for sheer space and volume. The smaller model will also come in other variants: a smaller Y, III, van, and perhaps a smaller Cyber Truck based on the rumor mill.

What I found most interesting is that Tesla will become an electric/utility company.