Locator: 49780TESLA..
In an earlier post the Tesla term "body-in-white" (BIW) was mentioned.
For a nice summary, google: "tesla "body-in-white" concept."
If you do that, it will lead you to this:
Tesla's "Body-in-White" (BIW) concept involves creating the car's bare metal skeleton, focusing heavily on mega-casting on (large single-piece castings for front/rear structures) and innovative designs for strength, cost, and simplified assembly, differing from traditional BIWs by integrating structural battery packs and reducing part count for efficiency, as seen in the Model Y and Cybertruck developments.
Tesla is not alone:
Many major automakers use the Body-in-White (BIW) process, including Ford, GM, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, Toyota, Hyundai, Volvo, Polestar, Nissan, Kia, Jaguar, Lucid, Rivian, Nio, Xped, nnd Porsche, with many integrating advanced techniques like mega-casting (Tesla's signature) for their electric vehicles (EVs) to reduce weight and improve space, while traditional manufacturers like Magna also supply BIW solutions for various OEMs.
For a full discussion, link here to Pall Kornmayer. This is the lede:
Why is it called "body-in-white?"
It's called "Body in White" (BIW) because it refers to the bare, welded metal car body before painting, historically receiving a white primer coat for rust protection, though the term stuck even as primers became grey or other colors, signifying the unfinished shell stage before adding trim, engine, and other components.
The "white" part comes from old practices where the raw body was painted white to allow customization later, or from dipping it in white primer, while "body" refers to the assembled structure.
Key Meanings of "Body in White":
- Manufacturing Stage: It's the completed shell of sheet metal parts (roof, sides, etc.) welded together, forming the vehicle's structure, but before paint, interior, or mechanicals.
- Historical Origin: In early car manufacturing, bodies were built separately and often painted white (or a primer that looked white/light) to offer customers color choices later or to protect the bare metal.
- Modern Context: Today, it still describes this fundamental stage, even though the primer is often grey or the body is treated with other coatings before final painting.
Why it's Important:
- Structural Integrity: The BIW provides the strength, stiffness, and safety (crashworthiness) for the entire vehicle.
- Foundation: It's the base to which all other parts, like the engine, chassis, interior, and exterior trims, are added.
