[RedDevil]

Originally Posted by Xist

Redpoint, Tesla is doing great on it's own? I have read the body is heavy because they use too many body panels that need to be joined. If they used fewer panels it would be cheaper and easier. We have had those super exciting discussions of panel gaps. Why not borrow from industry experts for just the body? They have a revolutionary drivetrain, why reinvent the body?

I think the machines to make big body parts in one go are quite expensive, and not cost efficient in the low volumes of early production?

It is quite seductive to assume this high-tech company has no knowledge of the efficiency of body part construction... but not really likely. They simply had their reasons to make them from smaller parts, and will change it when the production situation calls for it.

As the volumes continue to rise, more and more machines on the production lines will upgrade to high quantity low cost-per-item stuff, driving down production cost.
The car which the $38.000 quote, if realistic at all, was about is not for the base model, nor was it built in entirely the same way the cars will be built once the base model is part of the line. Cheaper batteries, bigger machines and building experience on the production line will drive that cost down.