Whoever knew that watching a robot stamp frunks could be so satisfying?
Tesla has just posted a couple of short videos (below) shot at its factory in Fremont, California, showing robots stamping metal sheets into parts for its Model 3 and Model Y electric cars.
The cyclical sound and motion make for a mesmerizing display of advanced technology as the factory works around the clock to construct the vehicles for Tesla’s North American customers.
Watch as the hefty robotic arms dip in and out with metal sheets as the giant hydraulic press bobs up and down to create parts for the frunk (front trunk, for those not in the know).
Also, Model 3 frunks pic.twitter.com/Up848EP3mk
— Tesla (@Tesla) January 24, 2021
The footage follows a longer video (below) from Tesla a couple of years ago that shows the same factory knocking together a Model 3. It shows the car moving along the production line as a range of robots and humans build the Model 3 piece by piece.
Keeping with the robot theme, Tesla recently showed off its battery-making process in an artfully produced video (below) that aims to encourage people to apply for jobs at its upcoming Giga Texas and Giga Berlin factories.
Tesla’s Fremont facility covers 5.3 million square feet of manufacturing and office space and employs more than 10,000 people across a range of roles.
The site was home to General Motors from 1962 to 1982, then GM and Toyota’s New United Motor Manufacturing from 1984 until the partnership ended in 2009. Tesla bought the facility in 2010 and overhauled it in preparation for Model S production, with the first vehicle coming off the line two years later.
The site also includes an employee training center, cafeteria and food trucks, a gym, a 24/7 in-house medical center, and outdoor patios, according to Tesla.
Tesla’s latest Fremont factory videos came on the same day that the company cut the price of the Model S and Model Y’s 17-inch touchscreen upgrade to $1,500, down from $2,500.
Earlier this month, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration asked Tesla to recall around 158,000 vehicles — including the 2012-2018 Model S and 2016-2018 Model X — regarding a safety issue with the vehicles’ touchscreen. The company is yet to announce whether it will go ahead with the recall as it has been trying to fix it with over-the-air software updates.
