Tesla will no longer paint new cars starting with the new models introduced in a 1-3 months. Painting cars can take up 40% of the factory and most of the time to build a car. Tesla will skipping painting with SMC (sheet moulded compound) bodies, adopt some parallel assembly, and start deploying Tesla Bots, Tesla could cut production time by 20-30% and costs by 10-15% on its Model 3/Y lines. We dive into the savings, the tech, and what it means for $25,000 cars—and maybe even $15,000 ones by 2026.

Tesla is revolutionizing car manufacturing by part of the innovative unboxed process—set to fully debut with the Cybercab in 2026—into its EXISTING 3/Y lines. Car modules are built separately and then joined together. This will slash production time and costs. They could make new $25,000 cars with a 30-40% production increase on current lines. The 2026 process could be $15,000 cybercabs.

Here's how Tesla is making it happen:

1. SMC Moulded Bodies: No More Painting
What It Means: Tesla uses Sheet Molding Compound (SMC) bodies, eliminating the need for painting—a notorious bottleneck that involves priming, drying, and inspection.

Time Savings: Cuts 1-1.5 hours per vehicle (10-15% of a 10-hour baseline).

Cost Savings: Saves $2,000-$3,000 per car (10% of a $30,000 baseline).

Fit with 3/Y Lines: Easily integrates by swapping traditional bodies for SMC ones, requiring minimal changes to the body shop.