Sandy Munro Talks Cybertruck Breakdown, Announces AutoDatas partnership at SAE International’s WCX
Posted: April 17, 2024
Munro and Associates were on site at SAE International’s WCX to discuss the Tesla Cybertruck with the vehicle in tow.
During his talk, Sandy Munro shared his thoughts on Tesla’s much talked about angular vehicle.
“This is, as far as I’m concerned, the most exciting vehicle I’ve seen in my life,” Munro said.
Munro, who came up in the industry himself as an engine engineer and was part of the team that developed the Ford Vulcan V6 engine, is a passionate supporter of the new technologies for powering a vehicle. In his teardowns of electric vehicles, Munro weighs their benefits, and he had a few to call out around the Cybertruck.
He first made mention of a new vent system in the battery pack, with a breather that allows gases to escape a bad cell. In the event of a larger incident, Munro commented that the spark arrester in the vehicle would help to prevent the spread of a potential fire through venting.
Other call-outs included two rear induction motors, a noted change from Tesla’s previous placement in the front of the vehicle. Munro said he plans to delve deeper into the Cybertruck motor in an upcoming teardown for his YouTube channel.
Additionally, Munro focused on the casting system Tesla is using for newer vehicles, using new machines that weigh substantially less. The benefit, according to Munro, is taking up less space and the ability to work faster by dropping tonnage.
“We have to move quicker—that’s my main message,” he said.
Through the casting process, Munro noted that Tesla has used scrap metal that would be headed for a landfill or recycling plant in its rear casting. He voiced his support for this method of reuse and encouraged those in the audience to pursue a similar method to increase efficiency and cut costs in vehicle manufacturing.
Above all, Munro encouraged those in attendance to take risks and try new things if they wanted to take industry to the next level.
“We have to stop the myths associated with techniques, technology, and manufacturing,” he said. “We have to start doing things with a whole lot more guts.”
Emphasizing a focus on the future, Munro concluded the session by announcing an official a partnership with AutoDatas. Both can be seen in Munro and Associate’s upcoming May the 4th Cybertruck event.