The Tesla Model S electric sedan is in many ways a glimpse of the future, all the way down to how it’s made. Wired has taken a look at the manufacturing process behind the Model S, from the early shaping of raw materials by robots, to the finishing touches made by human hands; Tesla says it has 3,000 human employees and a total of 160 robots that build the cars from start to finish — a process that takes between three to five days. Between robots with lasers, robots that cut and weld, robots that paint, and robots that ferry auto bodies along magnetic strips, there’s plenty inside this modern automobile plant to titillate those with an affinity for automation.
Watch robot arms massage a roll of metal into a Tesla Model S
is executive editor who has obsessed over headlines and internet speeds since 2011. He previously worked as an advocate for the National Park System.
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