Elon Musk interview: 1-on-1 with Sandy Munro
Discussion
A strange interview. It'll strengthen your opinions on Elon Musk and Tesla whatever side of the fence you sit on. The comments on the video itself will illustrate that further....
I haven't ever looked at the work of the interviewer - from the media mileage derived from his results from pulling down some Tesla ages ago I thought he was quite forthright and had a conservative approach. Not to say that the problem with the Tesla autopilot is the roads themselves...
The part about the seats was illuminating - I do remember the debacle about them taking the manufacture of seats in-house. I believe most car manufacturers outsource those components so they don't have to build a whole heap of knowledge on it. But could Tesla themselves leverage the IP themselves and get into the OE seat game, or allow people to use their patents? Similarly, they've produced a whole heap of IP about other things, they purchase a toolmaker when said toolmaker had other contracts to fulfil before Teslas so they could jump the queue....
I haven't ever looked at the work of the interviewer - from the media mileage derived from his results from pulling down some Tesla ages ago I thought he was quite forthright and had a conservative approach. Not to say that the problem with the Tesla autopilot is the roads themselves...
The part about the seats was illuminating - I do remember the debacle about them taking the manufacture of seats in-house. I believe most car manufacturers outsource those components so they don't have to build a whole heap of knowledge on it. But could Tesla themselves leverage the IP themselves and get into the OE seat game, or allow people to use their patents? Similarly, they've produced a whole heap of IP about other things, they purchase a toolmaker when said toolmaker had other contracts to fulfil before Teslas so they could jump the queue....
Edited by rodericb on Thursday 4th February 08:35
Ive not watched that video but I’ve watched his reviews. I think what people forget about his takedowns is they’re largely about construction techniques and the design aspects aiding that construction . He doesn’t review from an ownership perspective directly. The two aren’t entirely separate as controlling the supply chain, enabling reduced labour, cheaper materials doesn’t mean the car is a better car to own, but equally reducing production cost and tighter tolerances should make them cheaper and more reliable.
If you wanted the EV Munro went most overboard on with plaudits, you’d buy a BMW i3 which he described as the most significant car since the Model T.
If you wanted the EV Munro went most overboard on with plaudits, you’d buy a BMW i3 which he described as the most significant car since the Model T.
Heres Johnny said:
Ive not watched that video but I’ve watched his reviews. I think what people forget about his takedowns is they’re largely about construction techniques and the design aspects aiding that construction . He doesn’t review from an ownership perspective directly. The two aren’t entirely separate as controlling the supply chain, enabling reduced labour, cheaper materials doesn’t mean the car is a better car to own, but equally reducing production cost and tighter tolerances should make them cheaper and more reliable.
I've noticed that too.
BTW the interview is well worth watching, two clever people talking about production more than anything else.
Heres Johnny said:
If you wanted the EV Munro went most overboard on with plaudits, you’d buy a BMW i3 which he described as the most significant car since the Model T.
Aside from the fact that he stated on multiple occasions that if you have to buy an EV now, the Model Y is the one he'd recommend without hesitation.Munro has some good principles.
-Teamwork
-Reducing the number of parts
-Layered assembly from above, using gravity
-Easy alignment and insertion
-Avoid expensive fastening
-Bulk storage to reduce handling problems
-Poka-yoke – making operations foolproof to avoid errors
-Self assembly so that parts naturally engage
-Simplify packaging and servicing
-Avoid adjustment and repositioning of the assembly
I enjoy his teardown videos and you can apply the way he looks at manufacturing a car.
The lego example is a good example of engineering to explain to a engineer and designer. A bit like Clarkson asking why in 30 years of smoking every cigarette he has smoked has never had an imperfection and yet costs 50p.
-Teamwork
-Reducing the number of parts
-Layered assembly from above, using gravity
-Easy alignment and insertion
-Avoid expensive fastening
-Bulk storage to reduce handling problems
-Poka-yoke – making operations foolproof to avoid errors
-Self assembly so that parts naturally engage
-Simplify packaging and servicing
-Avoid adjustment and repositioning of the assembly
I enjoy his teardown videos and you can apply the way he looks at manufacturing a car.
The lego example is a good example of engineering to explain to a engineer and designer. A bit like Clarkson asking why in 30 years of smoking every cigarette he has smoked has never had an imperfection and yet costs 50p.
Bit of a follow up with Sandy discussing the interview. Musk invited him to stick around to eve drop on meetings 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1nc_chrNQk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1nc_chrNQk
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