Summary
- Tesla Cybertruck Lead Engineer Wes Morrill shared insights on the company’s unique approach to car design
- Tesla utilized different teams for vehicle design in the early days, which led to less optimal designs
- Learning from past experiences, Tesla adopted a structural battery pack design for better integration and efficiency
- Morrill highlighted the importance of working together and adapting for optimal product design
- Examples of Tesla’s innovation include chassis air suspension, subwoofer design, and centralized vehicle controllers
Article
Tesla Cybertruck Lead Engineer Wes Morrill recently shared insights on Tesla’s unique approach to car design, emphasizing the company’s intense attention to detail. Morrill explained how Tesla initially utilized separate teams for battery and vehicle structure design, resulting in a lack of optimization in the final product. This approach led to a dense battery in a strong box structure that did not integrate efficiently into the vehicle body, although it achieved high crash safety ratings. Morrill highlighted the need for collaborative teamwork to create the best product without organizational boundaries hindering optimization.
Tesla learned from past experiences and made changes, such as implementing a structural battery pack that is now being emulated by other electric car manufacturers. Morrill emphasized the importance of overcoming organizational constraints and ego-driven decision-making to achieve innovation. By giving the responsibility of battery structure design to the vehicle structures team, Tesla was able to create a more efficient and integrated design with improved crash safety ratings. Morrill also pointed out smaller innovations in the Cybertruck design, such as the chassis air suspension and centralized vehicle controllers, that demonstrate the benefits of teamwork and open communication in creating innovative products.
Morrill discussed Conway’s Law, which suggests that large organizations tend to produce products that reflect their communication structures. By breaking down organizational boundaries and promoting a collaborative mindset, Tesla was able to achieve innovative designs and solutions in the Cybertruck. Morrill highlighted examples such as utilizing the exterior surface of doors as crash intrusion beams and using the pedestrian warning system as a horn. The proactive approach to working across boundaries and encouraging critical thinking led to these innovative features that set Tesla apart in the automotive industry.
The integration of battery and vehicle structure design in the Cybertruck represents a significant organizational change that resulted in a more efficient and optimized product. Morrill stressed the importance of questioning existing solutions and working collaboratively to find the best possible outcome. By promoting a culture of innovation and challenging the status quo, Tesla was able to create groundbreaking features in the Cybertruck that demonstrate the company’s commitment to excellence. Morrill’s insights offer a glimpse into Tesla’s design philosophy and the collaborative efforts that drive the company’s success in redefining the automotive industry.
Overall, Tesla Cybertruck Lead Engineer Wes Morrill’s reflections shed light on the company’s approach to design and innovation. By learning from past experiences, breaking down organizational boundaries, and fostering a culture of collaboration, Tesla was able to create the disruptive and innovative designs seen in the Cybertruck. The integration of battery and vehicle structure design, along with smaller technical innovations, highlights the importance of teamwork and open communication in achieving optimal results. Morrill’s insights provide valuable lessons for companies seeking to push the boundaries of traditional design and create products that stand out in a competitive market.
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