Connect with us

News

Tesla’s streamlining efforts are a secret weapon against rival automakers

(Credit: ABK Tesla/Instagram)

Published

on

Tesla’s rise over the years from an upstart electric sports car maker to the world’s most valuable automaker by market cap is remarkable. Tesla’s lead in the electric vehicle sector continues to grow technology-wise, and the company is also catching up to the world’s veteran carmakers when it comes to its business.

Tesla, for example, has accelerated the timeline for turning cash into product and back to cash, allowing the company to commit more of its resources for investments in its upcoming projects. Tesla’s net profit increased over sevenfold in the year ending in the January to March quarter to $3.3 billion. That’s not far behind Toyota, which posted $3.93 billion. 

As noted in a Nikkei Asia report, Tesla’s cash conversion cycle fell to minus 15 days in fiscal 2021. This was the first time that Tesla entered the negative territory since starting the mass production of the Model S back in 2012. Automakers typically require a large amount of working capital on hand to operate. Nikkei noted that a negative cash cycle eliminates this need, as it allows the company to invest its money instead. 

Tesla production workers install seats to the structural battery pack at Gigafactory Texas. (Credit: Tesla Inc.)

Tesla’s cash conversion cycle of minus 15 days is quite a rare feat. Even auto juggernaut Toyota has a cash conversion cycle of 31 days, while Volkswagen has a cycle of 74 days excluding financial operations. Ryosuke Izumida, an analyst at financial services provider Monicle, noted that Tesla is extremely efficient at collecting revenue.

“It almost runs like a built-to-order business, with cash already on hand before starting production,” Izumida said. 

Advertisement

What is quite remarkable is that Tesla tends to not sit on its laurels, with the company improving its cash cycle even further by cutting its inventory turnover to 45 days. This became possible through an aggressive streamlining of parts and its vehicles’ assembly process. As a result, Tesla posted a gross profit margin of 26.5% for its automobiles in fiscal 2021. In comparison, Toyota logged 16.7%, while Volkswagen posted 18.7%. 

Tesla’s streamlining efforts are not only reflected in the company’s financials. The design of the company’s vehicles themselves is optimized for streamlining as well. The Model 3 and Model Y, which comprise over 90% of Tesla’s total vehicle production, features a minimalist interior centered on a massive touchscreen that replaces traditional meters and buttons. 

(Credit: Tesla)

Nikkei noted that Tesla’s electric cars, thanks to their streamlined design, require far fewer electronic control units (ECUs), which are responsible for steering and stopping vehicles. Typical vehicles utilize about 50 to 70 ECUs, and luxury cars could have about 100. Since Tesla uses fewer components, the need for wiring decreases, saving weight and production costs. 

The company’s use of megacasts from the company’s custom Giga Press machines also allows Tesla to build complex components in one casting. Conventional electric cars are estimated to require about 20,000 parts, while gasoline-powered cars require about 30,000. Tesla, however, is believed to have reduced this number further to just about 10,000 parts per vehicle. 

Electric vehicles are becoming more mainstream, but it will not be easy to overtake Tesla. More than its sleek cars and rockstar CEO, Tesla’s secret weapon against upcoming rivals is its aggressive streamlining — from its business strategies to the smallest components of its premium electric cars.

Advertisement

Don’t hesitate to contact us with news tips. Just send a message to simon@teslarati.com to give us a heads up.

Simon is an experienced automotive reporter with a passion for electric cars and clean energy. Fascinated by the world envisioned by Elon Musk, he hopes to make it to Mars (at least as a tourist) someday. For stories or tips--or even to just say a simple hello--send a message to his email, simon@teslarati.com or his handle on X, @ResidentSponge.

Advertisement
Comments

Elon Musk

SpaceX weighs Nasdaq listing as company explores early index entry: report

The company is reportedly seeking early inclusion in the Nasdaq-100 index.

Published

on

Credit: SpaceX/X

Elon Musk’s SpaceX is reportedly leaning toward listing its shares on the Nasdaq for a potential initial public offering (IPO) that could become the largest in history. 

As per a recent report, the company is reportedly seeking early inclusion in the Nasdaq-100 index. The update was reported by Reuters, citing people familiar with the matter.

According to the publication, SpaceX is considering Nasdaq as the venue for its eventual IPO, though the New York Stock Exchange is also competing for the listing. Neither exchange has reportedly been informed of a final decision.

Reuters has previously reported that SpaceX could pursue an IPO as early as June, though the company’s plans could still change.

Advertisement

One of the publication’s sources also suggested that SpaceX is targeting a valuation of about $1.75 trillion for its IPO. At that level, the company would rank among the largest publicly traded firms in the United States by market capitalization.

Nasdaq has proposed a rule change that could accelerate the inclusion of newly listed megacap companies into the Nasdaq-100 index.

Under the proposed “Fast Entry” rule, a newly listed company could qualify for the index in less than a month if its market capitalization ranks among the top 40 companies already included in the Nasdaq-100.

If SpaceX is successful in achieving its target valuation of $1.75 trillion, it would become the sixth-largest company by market value in the United States, at least based on recent share prices. 

Advertisement

Newly listed companies typically have to wait up to a year before becoming eligible for major indexes such as the Nasdaq-100 or S&P 500.

Inclusion in a major index can significantly broaden a company’s shareholder base because many institutional investors purchase shares through index-tracking funds.

According to Reuters, Nasdaq’s proposed fast-track rule is partly intended to attract highly valued private companies such as SpaceX, OpenAI, and Anthropic to list on the exchange.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Elon Musk

The Boring Company’s Prufrock-2 emerges after completing new Vegas Loop tunnel

The new tunnel measures 2.28 miles, making it the company’s longest single Vegas Loop tunnel to date.

Published

on

Credit: The Boring Company/X

The Boring Company announced that its Prufrock-2 tunnel boring machine (TBM) has completed another Vegas Loop tunnel in Las Vegas. The company shared the update in a post on social media platform X.

According to The Boring Company’s post, the new tunnel measures 2.28 miles, making it the company’s longest single Vegas Loop tunnel to date.

The new tunnel marks the fourth tunnel constructed near Westgate Las Vegas as the Vegas Loop network continues expanding across the city.

The Boring Company also noted that the new tunnel surpassed its previous internal record of 2.26 miles for a single Vegas Loop segment.

Advertisement

Construction of the tunnel involved moving roughly 68,000 cubic yards of dirt. The excavation process also used about 4.8 miles of continuous conveyor belt, powered by six motors totaling 825 horsepower.

The Boring Company’s Prufrock-series all-electric tunnel boring machines are designed to support the rapid expansion of company’s underground transportation projects, including the growing Vegas Loop network. Prufrock machines are designed for reusability, thanks in no small part to their capability to be deployed and retrieved easily through their “porposing” feature.

The Vegas Loop, specifically the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) Loop segment, has already been used during major events. Most recently, the LVCC Loop supported the 2026 CONEXPO-CON/AGG construction trade show, which was held from March 3-7, 2026. 

As per The Boring Company, the LVCC Loop transported roughly 82,000 passengers across the convention center campus during the event’s duration. 

Advertisement

CONEXPO-CON/AGG is one of the largest construction trade shows in North America, drawing more than 140,000 construction professionals from 128 countries this year.

The LVCC Loop forms the initial segment of the broader Vegas Loop network, which remains under active development as The Boring Company continues building new tunnels throughout the city.

Continue Reading

News

Tesla gathers Cybercab fleet in Gigafactory Texas

Images and video of the Cybercab fleet were shared by longtime Giga Texas observer Joe Tegtmeyer in posts on social media platform X.

Published

on

Credit: Credit: @JoeTegtmeyer/X

Tesla appears to be assembling a growing number of Cybercabs at Gigafactory Texas as preparations continue for the vehicle’s mass production. Recent footage shared online has shown over 30 Cybercabs being transported by trucks or staged near testing areas at the facility.

The images and video were shared by longtime Giga Texas observer and drone operator Joe Tegtmeyer in posts on social media platform X.

Interestingly enough, Tegtmeyer noted that many of the Cybercabs being loaded onto transport trucks were still equipped with steering wheels. This suggests that the vehicles are likely testing units rather than the final driverless configuration expected for the company’s Robotaxi service.

The vehicles could potentially be headed to testing sites across the United States as Tesla prepares to expand its Robotaxi fleet.

Advertisement

Additional footage captured at Gigafactory Texas also showed the Cybercab’s side and rear camera washer system operating as vehicles were being loaded onto transport trucks.

The growing number of Cybercabs at Giga Texas comes amidst the company’s announcement that the first production Cybercab has been produced at the facility. Full Cybercab production is expected to begin in April.

The vehicle is expected to play a central role in Tesla’s Robotaxi ambitions as the company looks to expand autonomous ride-hailing operations beyond its early deployments using Model Y vehicles.

Tesla has also linked Cybercab production to its proposed Unboxed manufacturing process, which assembles large vehicle modules separately before integrating them. The approach is intended to reduce production costs and accelerate output.

Advertisement

Musk has also noted that the Cybercab’s ramp will likely begin slowly due to the number of new components and manufacturing steps involved. However, he stated that once the process matures, Cybercab production could scale quickly.

Continue Reading