Toyota recently showed off its new manufacturing processes to journalists in a demonstration at its Myochi plant, and it has revealed how adopting a version of Tesla’s gigapress die-casting manufacturing method has drastically reduced the production time of new cars. According to Nikkei Asia, molten metal is poured into a die where it rapidly cools from around 1,292 degrees Fahrenheit to around 482° F.
What forms is a single piece that makes up the entire rear third of the chassis, instantly creating a piece that would normally be made up of 86 individual parts in a 33-step process. Not only does that simplify things, but it makes a scarcely believable improvement in production times, with the entire piece made in just three minutes rather than several hours. It’s no wonder that Toyota has adopted this method, and it’s not alone.