In July this year, the Tesla Gigafactory in Shanghai, my country, and Berlin, Germany, will suspend production for 14-18 days. During this period, the entire production line will be upgraded to increase production capacity so that best-selling models can be delivered to customers faster.
Combined with the Texas factory in the United States starting to deliver the Model Y equipped with 4680 batteries in June this year, and the Berlin factory displaying CTC technology models, we can boldly guess that the Shanghai Gigafactory may put into mass production the Model 3/Y models using CTC technology after the upgrade. Once it is put into production, what impact will it have on the domestic new energy market, and what benefits will consumers get from it?
Advantages and benefits of 3CTC
In 2020, Tesla demonstrated brand-new CTC technology, which changed the split design of the chassis battery pack in the past to integrated integration, which eliminated the traditional battery module and reduced parts quantity. The simplified chassis design combined with integrated castings can significantly reduce assembly time and improve production efficiency.
In addition, another advantage of the CTC technology chassis is that it is lighter in weight. With integrated castings, the new Model Y rolled off the assembly line in Texas in June this year has reduced the weight of the vehicle by 81KG compared to the old long-range model, which is equivalent to a person. The weight of an adult male, the lower vehicle weight combined with the higher energy density of the 4680 battery can further improve the vehicle's battery life.
Domestic new energy forces have seen the huge potential of CTC technology, and have followed up one after another, and launched their own solutions based on their own product characteristics to improve production capacity and product performance. Lower vehicle costs can lower product prices, attract more consumers to increase sales, and expand the brand's market share. The income brought by high sales can alleviate the tight capital chain operation of new car-making forces, which can be said to kill two birds with one stone.
The implementation and impact of CTC
In August this year, if the Tesla Gigafactory in Shanghai puts into production the Model 3/Y model using CTC technology, it will inevitably have an impact on domestic car companies. After all, except for Leapmotor and BYD , independent brands will deliver models using CTC technology within the quarter. Although other car companies have demonstrated their own technical solutions, they still need to spend half a year or even longer to improve the layout and technology of the industry chain. Details, product launch will take time, which will lose some user groups who are eager to use the car.
Tesla will use the industrial chain advantages brought by its brand and market to accelerate the upgrading of domestic supporting enterprises in order to better increase production capacity. Taking into account the change in the process of the 4680 battery used in CTC, the previous model of separately packaging chassis accessories and battery packs and delivering them to the OEM has been changed to overall delivery.
CTC's integrated production process will allow parts and accessories manufacturers in the domestic industrial chain to have closer contact with battery manufacturers. It is not ruled out that both parties will integrate according to market demand. This will allow the company's resources to be continuously optimized, R&D and production efficiency to be maximized, and the industry The chain layout is more reasonable.
Judging from the existing schedules of domestic companies, 2023 will be the starting point for new energy vehicle companies to use CTC technology on a large scale. Considering that it will take some time for manufacturers led by CATL to begin to increase their production capacity and integrate industry chain resources, it is conservatively estimated that 2024 will be a year when the delivery volume of the domestic new energy market will surge. By then, the models of major OEMs will be All high-end models will use CTC technology. The relationship between
CTC and consumers
CTC technology has a profound impact on enterprises and the market, but its essence is to serve consumers.
Considering that domestic preferential policies for new energy vehicles are likely to expire at the end of 2022, the price competition for products in the future market will be more intense. Whoever's models are more friendly to the people will be able to get more orders.
By 2023, it is expected that most domestic new energy vehicles will realize the popularization of CTC technology and achieve double optimization of production capacity and price.By then, lower product prices will make consumers feel that the price advantage of new energy models actually exists, rather than policy support. The lowered price threshold will stimulate consumers' desire to buy, which will have a negative impact on new energy companies after the refund. This is good news and can avoid the sales decline of its models caused by the cancellation of the policy.
At the same time, the larger body space, stronger body rigidity and more flexible control response brought by CTC technology will provide consumers with a driving pleasure that is unmatched by fuel vehicles.
In the long run, the user experience of domestic products will tend to be homogeneous. This is an unavoidable problem for new energy vehicles. In the future, major brands will focus on differentiated experiences in digitalization and intelligence. By then, the selling points of CTC technology will It has been downplayed or even forgotten, but it is undeniable that it has great historical significance in the development of new energy vehicles and deserves to be remembered.
