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Tesla Tested Vinyl Film Before Choosing Color-Infused Cybercab Panels
Tesla explained in an interview with Munro Live how it chose the Cybercab's color. Its panels do not go through a paint shop: the color comes from plastic with pigment built in, made through reaction injection molding (RIM). Engineering VP Lars Moravy called the paint shop one of the most expensive parts of a factory, costing a few hundred million dollars and around a million man-hours. Before choosing RIM, the team tested in-mold lamination with vinyl film and a painted film applied over stamped panels.…
- RIM was chosen over in-mold lamination and painted film for speed and cost
- A paint shop costs a few hundred million dollars and around a million man-hours
🔎 Why it matters: Removing the paint shop from the Cybercab changes how its body is produced, based on the cost figures Tesla gave for that facility.
📈 Upside: Panels with built-in color can have scratches repaired like conventional paint, and a small scratch does not reveal a different color underneath.
📉 Risk: Tesla says the Cybercab currently operates only on the Robotaxi network in Austin, so production today exceeds the pace of deployment.
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