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Tesla has done a decent job of mitigating some of the chip shortages since they are so vertically integrated. Though obviously Tesla produces way less cars than

Tesla has done a decent job of mitigating some of the chip shortages since they are so vertically integrated. Though obviously Tesla produces way less cars than Toyota/Honda/VW. But other manufacturers simply can't do this even if they wanted to since they outsource most of this stuff. > “We were able to substitute alternative chips, and then write the firmware in a matter of weeks,” Musk said. “It’s not just a matter of swapping out a chip; you also have to rewrite the software.” https://www.theverge.com/2021/7/26/22595060/tesla-chip-shortage-software-rewriting-ev-processor https://www.theverge.com/2021/7/26/22595060/tesla-chip-short...

blackguardx 5y ago
They also just completely dropped a feature - radar - because they couldn't get parts for it. I'm not sure other manufacturers would be able to do that either due to internal processes or being able to risk their reputation.
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]
- FartyMcFarter 5y ago
  Indeed - not many manufacturers could get away with Tesla's strategy of charging money for features that are in Alpha state, to put it charitably (e.g. Autopilot).
  - speedgoose 5y ago
    Many manufacturers had no shame to charge for shitty features in alpha state like the "ping pong" line assist.
    - mnholt 5y ago
      Well they aren't going to "ping pong" themselves into a parked emergency vehicle.
      - practice9 5y ago
        Right, because it will just turn off itself randomly and run full speed into vehicle ahead. Even Tesla's basic autopilot is far ahead of competitors and it's already included in base price. Many companies will rip you off for far more basic cruise control
        FartyMcFarter 5y ago
        > Even Tesla's basic autopilot is far ahead of competitors Depends on how you define "competitors" I guess. It doesn't seem to be ahead of Waymo.
        practice9 5y ago
        You can't buy a Waymo car
        FartyMcFarter 5y ago
        Probably because they don't deem it safe enough yet. Tesla on the other hand is happy to sell tech that hasn't matured yet.
      - marvin 5y ago
        My Skoda Citygo's line-keeping assist tries to drive me into the barrier every single time I go driving. Only a firm hand on the steering wheel prevents disaster.
- chrischen 5y ago
  Tesla dropped radar because they are moving to vision only systems like how the Comma AI/OpenPilot works. Vision models are superior to radar since radar can't detect stopped obstacles.
  - jsight 5y ago
    From their comments about it being a setback, it doesn't sound like it was planned to happen so quickly.
  - Smashure 5y ago
    Radar can absolutely detect stationary objects. Your vehicle moving at 50 mph means a stationary object is moving at 50 mph relative to your radar.
    - chrischen 5y ago
      Yea but they need to distinguish between the stationary objects that are inconsequential to the car.
      - anaganisk 5y ago
        Are you telling me that its an unsolved problem in aero industry whose entire tracking mostly dependa on radar and it doesn’t work with non moving objects? That doesnt make any sense to me, I mean how is a static image more superior to, say a metric that has accurate angle and distance.
- speedgoose 5y ago
  I'm expecting them to turn the radar off at some point on the cars with a radar, because in my own experience driving Tesla, the radar was good to trigger phantom breaking.
- imeron 5y ago
  Volvo dropped a security package too because of the chip shortage: "Volvo is contacting customers who have specified the Driver Awareness package to ask if they want to continue with their orders without the equipment, or wait until the kit becomes available once more." https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/industry-news-manufacturing/chip-shortage-ford-volvo-exclude-safety-features-new-cars https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/industry-news-manufacturi...
severino 5y ago
> and then write the firmware in a matter of weeks Well, it doesn't sound very reassuring to read that they just swapped out some chips here and there and then "hacked" the new firmware in a couple of weeks. It may be the chip for the FM radio or it could be part of the breaking system.
- KptMarchewa 5y ago
  Don't worry, they've been hacking the self driving code for a few years now.
nikau 5y ago
> Tesla has done a decent job of mitigating some of the chip shortages since they are so vertically integrated That and the fact they ten times less vehicles than other manufacturers like VW or Toyota per year.

blackguardx 5y ago

They also just completely dropped a feature - radar - because they couldn't get parts for it. I'm not sure other manufacturers would be able to do that either due to internal processes or being able to risk their reputation.

deleted 5y ago
[deleted]
FartyMcFarter 5y ago
Indeed - not many manufacturers could get away with Tesla's strategy of charging money for features that are in Alpha state, to put it charitably (e.g. Autopilot).
- speedgoose 5y ago
  Many manufacturers had no shame to charge for shitty features in alpha state like the "ping pong" line assist.
  - mnholt 5y ago
    Well they aren't going to "ping pong" themselves into a parked emergency vehicle.
    - practice9 5y ago
      Right, because it will just turn off itself randomly and run full speed into vehicle ahead. Even Tesla's basic autopilot is far ahead of competitors and it's already included in base price. Many companies will rip you off for far more basic cruise control
      - FartyMcFarter 5y ago
        > Even Tesla's basic autopilot is far ahead of competitors Depends on how you define "competitors" I guess. It doesn't seem to be ahead of Waymo.
        practice9 5y ago
        You can't buy a Waymo car
        FartyMcFarter 5y ago
        Probably because they don't deem it safe enough yet. Tesla on the other hand is happy to sell tech that hasn't matured yet.
    - marvin 5y ago
      My Skoda Citygo's line-keeping assist tries to drive me into the barrier every single time I go driving. Only a firm hand on the steering wheel prevents disaster.
chrischen 5y ago
Tesla dropped radar because they are moving to vision only systems like how the Comma AI/OpenPilot works. Vision models are superior to radar since radar can't detect stopped obstacles.
- jsight 5y ago
  From their comments about it being a setback, it doesn't sound like it was planned to happen so quickly.
- Smashure 5y ago
  Radar can absolutely detect stationary objects. Your vehicle moving at 50 mph means a stationary object is moving at 50 mph relative to your radar.
  - chrischen 5y ago
    Yea but they need to distinguish between the stationary objects that are inconsequential to the car.
    - anaganisk 5y ago
      Are you telling me that its an unsolved problem in aero industry whose entire tracking mostly dependa on radar and it doesn’t work with non moving objects? That doesnt make any sense to me, I mean how is a static image more superior to, say a metric that has accurate angle and distance.
speedgoose 5y ago
I'm expecting them to turn the radar off at some point on the cars with a radar, because in my own experience driving Tesla, the radar was good to trigger phantom breaking.
imeron 5y ago
Volvo dropped a security package too because of the chip shortage: "Volvo is contacting customers who have specified the Driver Awareness package to ask if they want to continue with their orders without the equipment, or wait until the kit becomes available once more." https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/industry-news-manufacturing/chip-shortage-ford-volvo-exclude-safety-features-new-cars https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/industry-news-manufacturi...

severino 5y ago

> and then write the firmware in a matter of weeks Well, it doesn't sound very reassuring to read that they just swapped out some chips here and there and then "hacked" the new firmware in a couple of weeks. It may be the chip for the FM radio or it could be part of the breaking system.

KptMarchewa 5y ago
Don't worry, they've been hacking the self driving code for a few years now.

nikau 5y ago

> Tesla has done a decent job of mitigating some of the chip shortages since they are so vertically integrated That and the fact they ten times less vehicles than other manufacturers like VW or Toyota per year.