Build Quality of Cybertrucks

[Mini2nut]

Having a brand new state-of-the-art assembly plant will help Tesla achieve better build quality. I am convinced that the ex-GM Fremont factory is leaving behind bad Ju J. I'm sure Tesla leadership has discussed the future of the plant. Does it fit into Tesla's future?

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[HaulingAss]

Having a brand new state-of-the-art assembly plant will help Tesla achieve better build quality. I am convinced that the ex-GM Fremont factory is leaving bad Ju Ju and needs to be abandoned ASAP.

If the Fremont plant is causing "bad Ju Ju" then I want more "bad Ju Ju" because the two Model 3's we've been driving for the last 4 years from that plant have been the best new cars we have ever owned. By far! Super reliable and convenient and they keep getting new features and capabilities added at no charge! We use them in pretty harsh environments and they both still look almost new.

I think you have been taking all the Tesla quality FUD far too seriously! They are really well made cars unless your definition of "well-made" is measuring panel gaps with micrometers. Personally, I'm more interested in the actual quality of materials and components used to make the car and how that affects driving dynamics and reliability and cost of long-term ownership and safety. The chassis, it's welds, the suspension components, steering box, brakes wheels, etc. Tesla doesn't cheap out on the parts most people know nothing about.

 

[Deleted member 3316]

Tried getting a test drive after seeing your message but I guess they do not have an appointment available (Too much demand they say) and I live like nowhere (Great state of Ohio). Will definitely try test driving one for sure. Thanks.

Contact the Tesla owners club of Ohio, someone will give you a test drive.

 

[rr6013]

Having a brand new state-of-the-art assembly plant will help Tesla achieve better build quality. I am convinced that the ex-GM Fremont factory is leaving bad Ju Ju and needs to be abandoned ASAP.

Oh my…Teslas have reached that point. Fascinating!
TL:dr
“Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.” - Arthur C. Clarke the Third law “Profiles of the Future: An Inquiry into the Limits of the Possible” 1962

"Juju" most likely derivative from "djudju," Hausa word meaning evil spirit or fetish. “Juju” are, unseen by the human eye, forces at work responsible for flaws. Juju pretty much sums up Tesla schema(link above). Congratulations you got there first. Turnsout more than a random throwaway.

GigaFactory is technology at scale. Fremont can’t scale Giga. Tesla first principles are applying technology to any detrimental reliance on human factors Fremont factory imposes on production quality. But there’s more.

Fremont taught Tesla every flaw in its product design, technologies, systems and processes before a scale-up to Giga. Quality, smaller is better. Fremont quality problems not solved would exacerbate a GigaFactory.

Tesla have in Fremont a laboratory in which those flaws have been identified, worked, reworked, redesigned and re-invented out of the products it makes.

As a builder, buildings like GigaFactory are learned lessons from microcosms that amplify and impact in short time cycles any inherent defects through errors, omissions and mistakes. Fremont taught Tesla everything it knows and famously it nearly went broke learning them.

Fremont, Tesla needs to dissect, deconstruct and diagnose GigaFactory. It could never Giga otherwise. At scale, lost are the touches, nuances and cascading effects that production speeds obliterate into a cluster fuck. Many are the lessons yet that Fremont can enrichen the quality, efficiency and magic of Teslas within.

Tesla wisely validated Fremont solutions first through Shanghai factory before upscaling to GigaFactory. Its a brilliant process and verification Tesla are no risk-takers. Methodical, first principled “Juju”, maybe magical even, but ”bad” is other’s risk.

 

[fritter63]

No issues with our 2018 or 2019 model 3's. Although they DO drive different, it's hard to quantify.

I think my 2019 feels better than the wife's, and she thinks the opposite.

But hey, I hear Ford once made a car that burst into flames when rear ended. People didn't stop buying Fords.

 

[CyberGus]

But hey, I hear Ford once made a car that burst into flames when rear ended. People didn't stop buying Fords.

 

[CyberGus]

The Model 3 was Tesla's first big push into large-scale manufacturing, which Elon called "production hell" when ironing out the details. They are far more experienced now, but the early fitment problems pointed a red-hot spotlight on otherwise minor issues, like panel gaps.

I think this is one area where Tesla is being hurt by the direct-sales model. Dealerships are expert detailers, and will repair/clean any minor defects from manufacturing or transport and thus have a higher perceived initial quality.

 

[Jhodgesatmb]

Having a brand new state-of-the-art assembly plant will help Tesla achieve better build quality. I am convinced that the ex-GM Fremont factory is leaving bad Ju Ju and needs to be abandoned ASAP.

Maybe a retooling to match what they are doing in Shanghai but abandonment is too extreme given that there is no other plant in the U.S. producing Model 3s.

 

[Jhodgesatmb]

But that was the end of the Ford Pinto.

 

[CyberGus]

But that was the end of the Ford Pinto.

No, it's now called the "Chevy Volt"

 

[Ogre]

Maybe a retooling to match what they are doing in Shanghai but abandonment is too extreme given that there is no other plant in the U.S. producing Model 3s.

Also, they have over a billion dollars invested in Fremont and it's producing ...500,000 units a year I think? Including the Model S and the Model X.

They won't even think of shuttering it until that capacity is duplicated elsewhere.

I think at one of the earnings calls they said they were still investing in expanding Fremont.

 

[Crissa]

If they want to reach millions of units, it will be a long time before Fremont is shuttered.

Also, they still need a place to make S and X. Just think of the pricing when they're able to raise their production to Model 3 levels.

-Crissa

 

[anionic1]

Second!

Don’t expect nor do I want “ car quality” in a truck, period.

Best truck I owned, ran it into the ground at 172k. Wiring harness couldn’t deal with ocean air and was failing - everywhere. I hated that truck’s body gaps everywhere. I could stick a pencil between any gap. Some as large as your thumb showed bolt heads.

Gaps were so obvious that it looked like farm equipment dealer built. It’s gaps were signature - Range Rover Hunter edition. It was a farm truck gussied up for royalty hunting trips. Perfect.

Gimme gaps and the perfect truck to go hunting anyday. Let them drive cars who want them “ no gaps”. Rivian et.al. are standing by for that business.

I couldn’t agree more (except I am not that into hunting). I am a builder at heart so I need a truck to help me get materials where I need them efficiently. I am a little concerned the CT is being designed as a luxury vehicle that happens to have a bed. It’s so funny to me that people focus so much on body panels gaps when that has very little to do with quality. I have pulled more parts out of ICE cars than I can count and body panel gaps have nothing to do with quality. That’s aesthetics. It’s like looking at the finish on a concrete nuclear reactor shell and judging the quality of the reactor on the concrete finish. I want a work horse. Not a show pony with saddle bags. I get there are a lot of gentlemen out there wanting a fancy truck that they can put their golf clubs in but I hope the CT is geared more toward what a truck is for.

 

[anionic1]

If they want to reach millions of units, it will be a long time before Fremont is shuttered.

Also, they still need a place to make S and X. Just think of the pricing when they're able to raise their production to Model 3 levels.

-Crissa

I think Elon wants to stick it to California. If the union stuff or the political stuff gets to ugly I could see him giving California the finger. And I live in CA so I like to see them stay but I wouldn’t blame him.

 

[ldjessee]

My rules: basically don’t fail me when needed most, to wit:

Four truck criteria

1. Does it beat the hell out of me
2. Can it keep up in hills in towing winds
3. Does it have Xtra towing power to accelerate out of a slide
4. Can it pull itself out from a dead stop in deep sand

Primary Cyber criteria

1. Will it get bricked - stranded out-of-range / fail after OTA update

Details matter; fall into above categories:

• Tar line snap
• Electronic/mechanical predictability
• Comfort
• Bump steer
• Shock rebound dampening
• Tire wear
• Electronics interfere with manual operation

I have seen engine swapped Jeeps still get stuck in sand and mud. Not sure that is a power or even torque issue… really need a winch kind of thing.

Keep up with what in the hills? Highway traffic? At a percentage of its towing capacity? What grade of hills? How aerodynamic is the trailer? At Highway speeds, that will make a huge difference…And did you mean blowing wind? Or just a head wind while towing? Again, the aero of the trailer and how much it fits into the wake of the CyberTruck will make a bigger difference.

As for OTA update bricking the truck, only time will tell. The only bricked Teslas I know about from an OTA were modified in someway by non-authorized people.

I have no idea what a tar line snap is… I even googled, assuming it was just a phrase I was unfamiliar with, but could not find anything…

Bump steer I am not too worried about unless it is excessive compared to other vehicles. I have have driven vehicles swing because one end or other had more authority… just getting used to how a specific vehicle drives these days… at least from my experience… but maybe some vehicle is really bad.

In my experience tire wear is more a result of how well aligned the suspension, how heavy footed the driver is, and the tire composition being bigger factors… but I guess if something is really crazy out of whack, it could effect tire wear… but not worried about it.

As for electronics vs manual… not sure what exactly you are referring to. There is no manual gearbox… Traction control?

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