When Sandy Munro goes to California with the Tesla Model 3 from 2021, he and his team will break down, we were sure he would talk to Elon Musk on the way. Not in California, as the Tesla CEO now lives in Texas. And there, at Boca Chica, Munro recorded this almost 49-minute interview with him. Apart from discussing a myriad of topics – structural batteries, mega castings, Autopilot, FSD … – Musk also acknowledged some production issues.
The first topic was probably the most difficult topic, in which Munro mentions the problems he had with the first split he did on a Tesla, a 2018 model 3. The engineer also found problems with the 2021 car, especially with regard to panel gaps, and he mentions he and Cory Steuben found an absolutely pristine one.
Musk told him they were trying to perfect the production, acknowledging for the first time that the Model 3 paint job does not always have the time to dry. This could explain the problems of the vehicle in several units, born out of the ‘production hell’ that Tesla had with the Model 3. The issue is now apparently gone.
Munro then told Musk that the seats in the Model 3 are the most comfortable he has ever had the chance to use, and they discussed how vertical integration made this possible. According to Munro, the seats will be built by a supplier, looking different on the outside but similar to others in their structures.
Munro and Musk later talked about Autopilot, and the Canadian engineer said he was really impressed with FSD. Munro also enjoyed the freedom Autopilot gave him to explore the environment while driving – something he had never done before, but warned Musk that Autopilot should better deal with the difference in roads between countries.
At this point, the conversation became one of Munro’s favorite topics: mega casting. Musk again admitted that the Model 3 body would be impeccable with so many parts. According to the CEO of Tesla, they had the right answers for the wrong manufacturing questions. The right answer was the mega cast.
Munro told Musk he was disappointed to see that Model 3 did not have the mega one-piece cast, and the Tesla CEO told the engineer that it was not possible to change the bus tires while it was against 80 km / h do not drive further.
In other words, only vehicles manufactured in the company’s new factories will get these structures, because the manufacturing will get them right away. In the Model 3 made in Fremont, production of the car that pays Tesla’s bills must be stopped.
In these nearly 49 minutes, Musk and Munro also talked about the structural battery pack, a more precise assembly process that makes this component and the mega-casting possible, that the refreshed Model S and X do not have 12V lithium-ion batteries, the EV- crossover point – when electric cars will be the majority in the market – has the wire cable revolution that the Model Y promised and did not deliver, and some final comments.
In them, Munro tried to ask Musk what he thought of MBAs, short sellers, and returned to FSD, which Musk said he was trying to promote in the safest way. Autonomous management specialists like John Krafcik disagree. NTSB member Jennifer Hommendy and David Zipper asked the federal government to set up professional tests.
Regardless of the dispute, Musk said FSD will take drivers home if he detects that they are sleeping in the car. If they have a medical condition, the car will take them to the nearest hospital – probably when it is no longer in beta testing. If you do not have time to look at the whole matter now, do it if you can.