TESLA FREMONT FACTORY TOUR

LACE, ALEXIS JOSHUA Q. ME148F-2/E01

2019100679 SEPTEMBER 6, 2022
ME-4TH YR MR. EDWARD ANG
INTRODUCTION
The Tesla factory, which is one of the most cutting-edge vehicle manufacturing facilities
in the world, is situated in Fremont, California. On 370 hectares of land, the Tesla factory's 5.3
million square feet of industrial and office space. More than 10,000 people work at the Tesla
plant, which includes a skylight for natural lighting and a floor sprayed with white epoxy to
promote a tidy workplace. Tesla, one of the state's largest employers in manufacturing, generated
$5.5 billion in sales and $4.1 billion in direct spending in California during the 2017 fiscal year,
according to the company's website. After its launch, Tesla established itself as one of the few
prosperous independent automakers and a pioneer in the electric vehicle industry. Notably, it
succeeded with vehicle purchasers as well. In every category for electric cars, the Model S, a
svelte luxury sedan with a starting price of $89,490, is rated best in class.
PRODUCTION OF TESLA
It is well known that Elon Musk, with his inventive and progressive firm Tesla
Automobiles, has changed the vehicle industry. Less is known about how he changed the
manufacture of such automobiles. Musk is taking a fresh look at how cars are produced in the
twenty-first century, much like Henry Ford did with mass manufacturing on an assembly line
one hundred years ago. Today, most manufacturing cars are created on assembly lines, and many
of the parts that are utilized on those lines are produced higher up the supply chain. At a typical
car plant in 2016, there are very few components created from raw materials. The Tesla Model S
is really assembled from coils of raw aluminum that are chopped, pressed, and connected in a
single factory. The Tesla Model S production process is introduced in the virtual tour. It is the
location of the Fremont facility, which produces the Tesla Model S. It has been noted that the
entire Tesla Model S construction process is challenging and comprises several machine
operations that are coupled with cutting-edge software. To learn more about the high-end electric
sedan's structure, HIS engineers disassembled a Tesla Model S. When scientists deconstructed
the automobile, they found that in terms of design, parts, and manufacturing methods, it is more
like a smartphone or tablet computer than a conventional car.

Lace, Alexis Joshua Q.

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Figure 1. Tesla Model Assembly Line

Contrary to other automakers, Tesla designed and engineered the bulk of the car's
electronics in-house. Several of the printed circuit boards in the head unit and instrument cluster
bear the Tesla Motors branding. The Tesla Model S's touchscreen and display are incredibly
high-end, and the company didn't skimp on either. Tesla was using the pricey components
because it wanted to provide the driver an interface like a mobile device, similar to the displays
on an iPhone or iPad. Additionally, the company wanted to do things differently, so instead of
physical knobs and buttons, they used virtual controls to take control of the user experience"
Musk's Model S display is 10 inches larger than typical automobile displays and is made by TPK
Holdings, which also makes touch displays for Apple. According to Tesla's 2021 Effect Report,
which details all the ways its activities impact not only the company's bottom line but also the
greater environmental implications, electric vehicles had by far the highest positive
environmental impact. 6.8 million metric tons of vehicle CO2e savings, based on the net CO2-e
reductions throughout the use-phase of a Tesla car compared to an internal combustion engine
(ICE) vehicle with a real-world fuel efficiency of -24mpg, are included in the emissions avoided
in the calendar year 2021. Of these 6.8 million metric tons, 0.9 million metric tons were avoided
thanks to home charging in California and yearly renewables matching for the worldwide
Supercharger network. Tesla's solar and storage CO2e savings, which are calculated based on
CO2e averted through the generation of zero-emission power from the company's solar panels, as
well as energy stored and later dispatched from its energy storage projects, saved the remaining
1.6 million metric tons. Through the recycling of the great majority of the materials used at its
facilities and activities, Tesla significantly lessens its environmental effect. According to the
firm, "the great majority of created garbage, such as paper, plastics, and metals, is recyclable."
Just 7% of the entire trash produced in 2021 at Gigafactory Shanghai, for instance, was not
recyclable.

Lace, Alexis Joshua Q.

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Figure 2. Tesla Model 3

The Model 3 has performance brakes, 20" Uber turbine Wheels, and dual motor all-wheel
drive for complete control in every weather. The Model 3 can accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per
hour (mph) in as little as 3.1 seconds because to a carbon fiber spoiler that increases stability at
high speeds. The Tesla Model 3 is a battery-powered, small executive vehicle that is made by
Tesla. Beginning in the middle of 2017, limited manufacturing of the Model 3 started, with the
first car coming off the assembly line on July 7, 2017. The first 30 automobiles were delivered
and officially launched on July 28. In comparison to the Model 3, the Model S sedan's entry-
level model continues to have a commanding position. The current Long-Range trim can
accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 3.1 seconds, reach a peak speed of 155 mph, and travel 405 miles
on a single charge. In addition to being 10 mph faster, that is 52 miles farther than the Long-
Range Model 3.

Figure 3. Elon Musk

Elon Musk is the co-founder and CEO of The Boring Company, SpaceX, Neural ink, and
Tesla. Elon is responsible for overseeing all product design, engineering, and worldwide
manufacturing for Tesla's electric automobiles, battery goods, and solar energy products as the
company's co-founder and CEO. Tesla's goal since it was founded in 2003 has been to hasten the
global switch to renewable energy. The Roadster sports vehicle, the company's first offering,
debuted in 2008. The Model S sedan and Model X SUV then followed in 2012 and 2015,

Lace, Alexis Joshua Q.

respectively. While Model X was the first SUV to ever get 5-star safety ratings in every area and
subcategory in the NHTSA's testing, Model S was awarded Consumer Reports' Best Overall Car
and has been voted the Ultimate Car of the Year by Motor Trend. In 2017, Tesla started shipping
out the Model 3, an affordable electric car with a range of more than 320 miles, and introduced
the Tesla Semi, a vehicle that is expected to save its owners at least $200,000 in fuel
expenditures over the course of a million miles. The Model Y small SUV, which started
customer deliveries in early 2020, and the Cybertruck, which would offer greater utility than a
conventional truck and greater performance than a sports car, were both introduced by Tesla in
2019.
ELON MUSK AND TESLA

ALEXIS JOSHUA Q. LACE

Figure 4. Tesla Documentary

The goal of founding Tesla Motors was to create an electric sports automobile. Tesla's
chief executive officer (CEO) was Eberhard, and its CFO was Tarpenning (CFO). The firm
received funding from a number of sources, most notably PayPal cofounder Elon Musk, who
gave the new business more than $30 million and served as chairman of the board starting in
2004. In 2008, Tesla Motors unveiled the Roadster, a wholly electric vehicle. In corporate
testing, it reached a range of 245 miles (394 km) on a single charge, a record for an electric
vehicle in mass production. Additional testing revealed that the Roadster's performance was on
par with that of many gasoline-powered sports cars, with a 0-60 mph (96 km/h) acceleration time
of fewer than four seconds and a peak speed of 125 mph (200 km/h). Carbon fiber was used to
make the car's featherweight body. Since the Roadster didn't have an internal combustion engine,
it didn't have any exhaust emissions. According to Tesla Motors, the vehicle achieved efficiency
ratings that were comparable to 135 miles per gallon of gasoline (57 km per liter). Lithium-ion
cells, which are frequently found in laptop batteries, were utilized to power the vehicle's electric
engine and could be recharged from a regular electrical outlet. Despite receiving a $7,500 federal
tax credit for buying an electric car, the Roadster's price of $109,000 rendered it a luxury good.

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Figure 5. Body Shop

It's no secret that Elon Musk changed the automotive industry with his ingenious and
progressive company, Tesla Automobiles. What's lesser known is how he changed the making of
such cars. Musk has a new look at how cars are built in the 21st century, much like Henry Ford
did on a mass assembly line 100 years ago. The transportation used within the facility and the
creative use of robotics are other differences. In a typical car factory, the vehicles are on a "train"
that never stops. Instead, simply move around and reach out to add components for individuals.
Tesla's Model S is on a "smart cart" that moves around the factory as needed. More than 10,000
people work alongside robots in car manufacturing plants today. Robots are typically used to
perform large-scale activities that are too risky or take too long to complete for humans. At
Tesla, 160 robots work alongside its 3,000 employees to handle core operations and many
meticulous tasks. The versatility of the Tesla robot is also extraordinary. The Powerwall
residential battery, the Powerpack industrial battery, and the Megapack, which is intended for
utility-scale deployments, are the other three energy storage technologies produced by Tesla.
With the acquisition of SolarCity, the top supplier of solar power systems in the US, in 2016,
Tesla became the first vertically integrated sustainable energy firm in the world. In 2017, Solar
Roof, a stunning and reasonably priced energy-generating solution, was introduced. The electric
motor, battery pack, and charger are only a few of the essential electric parts that Tesla makes.
Additionally, it wants to produce its own microchips and batteries. In order to swiftly and
inexpensively charge batteries for Tesla owners, Tesla developed Supercharger stations in the
US and Europe starting in 2012. Later iterations of such stations may even swap out the Model S
battery pack in its entirety.

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 ALEXIS JOSHUA Q. LACE

Figure 6. Body Shop Area

For the workers' safety, robots are placed within the plastic in the Fremont facility. The
Fremont facility has a body shop section where the formed and constructed pieces from the
stamping press are transported and welded. These robots can alter their tools, making them
incredibly adaptable. The machines' queue is lengthy, though, as the pieces must be welded in
stages to achieve the necessary size for Tesla models. Because the Tesla Model 3 is designed for
mass production and hence requires greater production, the body shop area is 90% automated.
Aluminum rolls are supplied to the plant at the press center, where the creation and assembly of a
Tesla automobile begins. This machine's function is to distribute the aluminum and cut it to the
necessary dimensions. The aluminum is then chopped to the required dimensions by being
placed through a stamping machine. After that, an aluminum block is inserted into the device and
comes out. After that, put a fresh one in the machine, and it will resume operation. At the Tesla
plant, these machines are always in operation. To further enhance the manufacturing of
automobiles, Tesla, therefore, sought to increase the effectiveness of its robots. The business also
expanded into solar energy-related items. In 2015, a series of solar energy storage batteries for
usage in residences and commercial buildings was revealed. Tesla acquired the solar panel
business SolarCity in 2016, and it now offers rooftop solar panels, a solar roof with energy-
producing tiles, and a sizable battery dubbed the Powerwall to store the generated electricity for
use at night or as a backup in case of an electrical blackout. The company's name was changed to
Tesla, Inc. in 2017 to reflect the fact that it no longer only sold automobiles. In 2020, Tesla
unveiled the Model Y, a new crossover. In comparison to the Model X, the Model Y was
smaller, cheaper, and shared many components with the Model 3. Musk expressed optimism that
the Model Y will become Tesla's best-selling model after sales of the vehicle swiftly reached
levels equivalent to those of the Model 3. A second-generation Roadster, a semi-trailer vehicle,
and a pickup truck called the Cybertruck were among the products Tesla stated will be produced
in the early 2020s. The Cybertruck's boxy, angular appearance caused criticism when it was
originally presented. Musk discusses his idea of the future home while displaying a concept
image of a house with a Tesla in the driveway, Powerwalls on the side of the house, and a solar
glass roof.
ELON MUST INTERVIEW
According to him, the majority of US homes have adequate roof space for solar panels to supply
all of the home's energy demands. Eventually, he predicts, "virtually all residences will have a

Lace, Alexis Joshua Q.

solar roof." In order to store all the electricity required to power our houses and automobiles,
Musk has placed a significant wager on lithium-ion batteries. In 15 years, he predicts that it will
be uncommon to have a roof without solar panels. Now let's talk about the Gigafactory, a
gigantic lithium-ion battery manufacturing facility located close to Sparks, Nevada. Musk
continues, as a video of the plant producing Li-ion batteries plays in the background, "When it's
going full speed, you can't see the cells without a strobe light." In a world where we don't feel
bad about consuming or creating energy, Musk estimates that we'll need approximately 100 of
these factories to power it. Tesla aims to reveal the locations of four other Gigafactories later this
year. Musk suggests the new plants will be dispersed across the world by saying, "We need to
target a worldwide market." Elon Musk has claimed that Tesla invests all its profits to make its
products as attractive as possible. With word-of-mouth advertising, the Tesla Group uses a
different marketing technique. Occurs when an individual purchases a vehicle to have a positive
driving experience and then passes it on to another person. This is the responsibility and primary
goal of the entire Tesla organization. He added that the company has built cars that are incredibly
affordable and approachable. It is also an essential component in the manufacture of electric
vehicles, as it is necessary to use high-quality materials to manufacture inexpensive vehicles.

Lace, Alexis Joshua Q.

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Lace, Alexis Joshua Q.