Posted on June 14, 2023
Toyota, the leading Japanese automaker, has announced its plans to adopt "giga casting" systems for its forthcoming electric vehicles. Similar to Tesla, the company intends to build car bodies from three major components, in a modular structure that allows significant integration.
The decision to adopt giga casting enables the reduction of vehicle development costs and factory investment. Giga casting, an innovation led by Tesla with its Model Y crossover, uses enormous machines to create aluminum parts, larger than those typically used in automotive manufacturing. This approach has been instrumental in Tesla achieving industry-leading profitability.
In another significant nod to Tesla's futuristic factories, Toyota also plans to establish a "self-propelling" assembly line where vehicles in production essentially drive themselves through the manufacturing process. The move is ambitious and will necessitate considerable investment from the automaker.
However, giga casting does present challenges, including the high cost of the machines, making it a significant investment for automakers like Toyota who plan to offer a variety of next-generation electric cars. Cars made with giga cast parts could also be more difficult to repair in case of accidents.
The giga casting machines are produced by various companies, including IDRA, which manufactures Tesla's machines. IDRA has been a subsidiary of China's LK Industries since 2008, with other giga press makers including the Buhler Group, Shibaura Machine, Yizumi, and Haitian.
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