High-end electronics
IHS Technology is dismantling a Tesla S
sedan, and started with the cabin and its electronics. IHS found an
infotainment and instrumentation system custom-designed and built with
state-of-the-art technology, as well as a supply chain methodology that
more closely resembles Apple's build model for an iPhone or iPad than
that of a traditional automobile maker.
"That’s a big difference between Tesla and, for the most part, the rest of the automotive manufacturer space. Most [car makers] turn everything over -- lock, stock and barrel -- to third parties," said Andrew Rassweiler, senior director of cost benchmarking services at IHS.
In the traditional model, a car maker would set certain parameters for its infotainment system, but then send it off to Panasonic, Alpine or Harmon to be designed and built using a long supply chain. Tesla, in contrast, designs the infotainment system and then sends it off to be built like Foxconn would build an iPhone for Apple, Rassweiler said.
Two NVIDIA Tegra processor modules are at the heart of the electronic components in the Model S, which "command a sizable price tag," according to Rassweiler. Here is a look at how they work.
"That’s a big difference between Tesla and, for the most part, the rest of the automotive manufacturer space. Most [car makers] turn everything over -- lock, stock and barrel -- to third parties," said Andrew Rassweiler, senior director of cost benchmarking services at IHS.
In the traditional model, a car maker would set certain parameters for its infotainment system, but then send it off to Panasonic, Alpine or Harmon to be designed and built using a long supply chain. Tesla, in contrast, designs the infotainment system and then sends it off to be built like Foxconn would build an iPhone for Apple, Rassweiler said.
Two NVIDIA Tegra processor modules are at the heart of the electronic components in the Model S, which "command a sizable price tag," according to Rassweiler. Here is a look at how they work.
Premium Media Control Unit - front view
Tesla's 17-in. center display is 10-in. larger than the average infotainment system (also called a head unit) screen.
IHS called the entertainment head unit "the most complex...design ever seen by the IHS Teardown Analysis Service."
The head unit has more than 5,000 discrete components, around 1,000 more than the highest-end infotainment unit IHS previously analyzed. Likewise, a bill of materials for the virtual instrument cluster and the premium media control unit is roughly twice the cost of the highest-end infotainment unit examined by IHS.
The touch screen is made by TPK Holdings, which also was the first touch-screen supplier to Apple for the initial models of the iPhone, according to IHS.
IHS called the entertainment head unit "the most complex...design ever seen by the IHS Teardown Analysis Service."
The head unit has more than 5,000 discrete components, around 1,000 more than the highest-end infotainment unit IHS previously analyzed. Likewise, a bill of materials for the virtual instrument cluster and the premium media control unit is roughly twice the cost of the highest-end infotainment unit examined by IHS.
The touch screen is made by TPK Holdings, which also was the first touch-screen supplier to Apple for the initial models of the iPhone, according to IHS.
Premium Media Control Unit - rear view
The unit is built by Innolux Corp. in Taiwan. The separate audio
amplifier module for the sound system is built by S1nn GmbH in Germany.
The DRAM and NAND flash used with the NVIDIA Visual Computing Modules come from SK Hynix.
The head unit also contains a field-programmable gate array from Altera Corp.
Premium Media Control Unit - interior viewThe DRAM and NAND flash used with the NVIDIA Visual Computing Modules come from SK Hynix.
The head unit also contains a field-programmable gate array from Altera Corp.
An interior view of the Tesla 2013 Model S Premium Media Control Unit.
The use of an NVIDIA Corp. Tegra 3, 1.4Ghz quad-core processor provides computing power in the same league with recent smartphone and tablet designs.
Other microcontrollers used in the unit come from Freescale Semiconductor and Texas Instruments (including the assorted analog, logic and specialized IC content in multiple modules).
The wireless chipset module is built by Sierra Wireless and Qualcomm. Parrot built the Model S's combination BT and WLAN Wi-Fi hotspot module.
The use of an NVIDIA Corp. Tegra 3, 1.4Ghz quad-core processor provides computing power in the same league with recent smartphone and tablet designs.
Other microcontrollers used in the unit come from Freescale Semiconductor and Texas Instruments (including the assorted analog, logic and specialized IC content in multiple modules).
The wireless chipset module is built by Sierra Wireless and Qualcomm. Parrot built the Model S's combination BT and WLAN Wi-Fi hotspot module.
Bring on the infotainment
Tesla's Model S infotainment system
has been highly rated by consumers. At the Detroit Telematics Show this
past June, for example, automotive market research firm SBD presented survey results from
46 consumers who had purchased any new car over the past year. The
owners overwhelmingly chose two primary functions that they wanted in a
car's infotainment system -- navigation and music. Google search and
Pandora also ranked high among the drivers.
The new car owners chose Tesla's infotainment system over similar systems in the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, the Porsche PCM, the Dodge Ram 1500, the Nissan Altima and the Honda Civic.
Those surveyed said they liked the Tesla S's infotainment system's large screen size, and the big, easy-to-find icons and intuitive interface that made it simple to use.
The new car owners chose Tesla's infotainment system over similar systems in the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, the Porsche PCM, the Dodge Ram 1500, the Nissan Altima and the Honda Civic.
Those surveyed said they liked the Tesla S's infotainment system's large screen size, and the big, easy-to-find icons and intuitive interface that made it simple to use.
Instrument Cluster - front view
Here we see a front view of Tesla's
virtual instrument cluster, which contains functions such as the digital
speedometer, tachometer and vehicle alert system.
Prior to the Tesla teardown, IHS dismantled Cadillac's virtual instrument cluster, which was similar in size, resolution and functionality.
Tesla’s version is a 12.3-in. diagonal, 1280 x 480-resolution LCD from Japan Display Inc., which is also a supplier for Apple’s iPhone 6 and 6 Plus.
As with the infotainment system, the virtual instrument display is among the single largest costs from an electronics perspective, according to IHS.
Instrument Cluster - rear viewPrior to the Tesla teardown, IHS dismantled Cadillac's virtual instrument cluster, which was similar in size, resolution and functionality.
Tesla’s version is a 12.3-in. diagonal, 1280 x 480-resolution LCD from Japan Display Inc., which is also a supplier for Apple’s iPhone 6 and 6 Plus.
As with the infotainment system, the virtual instrument display is among the single largest costs from an electronics perspective, according to IHS.
It's powered by an NVIDIA Visual
Computing Module, which has "an unexpected and impressive show of
computing power that features a Tegra 2 processor," IHS said.
"Considering there is also an NVIDIA Tegra 3 in the Premium Media Control Unit, this is a notable array of computing horsepower in a single automobile," IHS stated.
Teardown highlights
"Considering there is also an NVIDIA Tegra 3 in the Premium Media Control Unit, this is a notable array of computing horsepower in a single automobile," IHS stated.
Teardown highlights
In this video,
IHS's senior director of Teardown Services, Andrew Rassweiler, talks
about the highlights of his team’s dismantling of the Tesla Model S.
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