“Taking the skin off the Model Y, it was truly a work of art. It’s unbelievable,” said one Toyota executive who analyzed the Tesla part-by-part. They were surprised by how different the latest versions of the Model Y were under the skin. And compared the latest to earlier versions that looked the same on the outside.
According to Automotive News, the engineers were impressed by the Model Y’s simplistic yet efficient vehicle structure. And loved its advanced manufacturing prowess. Toyota engineers took note of the use of giga casting, which eliminated countless parts and brackets. And the structural battery pack is said to be high-level engineering. that also serves as the car’s floor.
Using the battery pack to serve as the car floor reduces the weight by up to 220 pounds (100 kilograms). And it’s the main reason that there is an increase in battery range and a decrease in construction costs.
The Toyota engineers concluded that Tesla has a significant advantage in four main areas: a dedicated platform, advanced battery technology, a designated EV production site, and a software-defined architecture.
