Tearing Down the Model T of Our Time - Autoline After Hours 284
Autoline Network6 HN recommenders · recommended in 4 months, 2015–2018
interview · intermediate · 2015–2018 on HN
An Autoline After Hours episode where Sandy Munro discusses his complete teardown of the BMW i3, along with automotive journalists. It covers the car's carbon fiber construction and manufacturing technology.
HN recommends it as a fascinating look at the i3's revolutionary materials and production methods, and as a contrast point for Tesla.
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8 comments from Hacker News
I don't follow the car industry but I did happen to catch this 2015 video of Munro talking about the BMW i3. He says things like "this is the watershed," "they invented new science," "this is the Model T of our time," etc. I got a whole new respect for BMW after watching that video. Munro even followed the production chain to Morocco while investigating the costing! ▶ this video
There was a video ( ▶ this video ) posted recently discussing the manufacturing tech within the i3; absolutely fascinating - the general gist being how this car is the Model T of our time. Perhaps it is a big loss or not that great; eitherway I believe the company will do just fine - they've set themselves up very well for the future unlike many of the other manufacturers in terms of brand, mobility, innovating / delivering on new tech / processes etc.
I can recommend this video: ▶ this video "Tearing Down the Model T of Our Time - Autoline After Hours 284" and link "BMW i3 Factory Production Tour"
I've heard a lot of good things about it, including in this somehow fascinating talk about a complete teardown: ▶ this video tl;dr A guy who sells $500k reports of cars for competing manufacturers says the i3 is revolutionary (in materials and construction).
This is a really interesting discussion about the production tech in the i3. "Cutting Edge" and "Revolutionary" are used. ▶ this video You can buy the report for $500k: link
If anybody is interested in this kind of thing, here is an hour-long talk with a freelance analyst who disassembled the BMW i3: ▶ this video His agency is selling that report for $500,000. I found the whole thing quite fascinating.
> The funny thing is, had Tesla just said: we don't need to innovate upon lean manufacturing Or had they done it the right way like BMW did with the i3. Source: BMW i3 Teardown: An Electronics Masterpiece: link Tearing Down the Model T of Our Time: ▶ this video (both are about the same teardown by Munro & Associates)
For contrast, here's Sandy Munro on the Autoline Network show talking about his teardown of the BMW i3: ▶ this video