. In its current vehicle manufacturing process, achieving the same portion of a car requires 86 parts, 33 steps, and several hours. However, with this new gigacasting machinery, it would take just about three minutes.Toyota Engineers Blown Away By Tesla Model Y, Makes Them Rethink EV Approach
Toyota built its first gigacast prototype in September 2022, and has been continually refining it since. Now, it’s more efficient and quicker to adapt for various vehicle models. The company still aims to achieve 20 percent higher productivity than its competitors using this new technology. This innovation will be employed in manufacturing the front and rear sections of a forthcoming electric vehicle, slated for release in 2026.
In addition to the new casting technology, Toyota is also looking to make the rest of its factory more efficient. Since EVs require more factory space to manufacturer than internal combustion vehicles, it is also looking to minimize its use of conveyor belts. To do that, it will utilize its advanced technology and the fact that EVs can run indoors. Partially built vehicles will move at 0.1 meters per second to meet an autonomous robot that can lift the vehicle and take to other areas of the factory.