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Other manufacturers manage to do it because they are not using stainless steel body panels. Stainless steel body panels are quite uncommon. I think DeLorean 40 years ago was the last to do it before Tesla. Before DeLorean I think there were only concept cars and a handful that Ford made in the 1930s that were not sold.

Tesla is using a particularly hard form of stainless steel that is especially difficult to work.



There are several obvious ways around the problem, including folding the edges over (then rounding), or just shaping things correctly.

The problem seems to be the willingness for Tesla to comply with legal requirements, rather than a materials problems.


Other mfgs probably check the requirements before building their vehicles, unlike Tesla who seems to say "fuck it" and barge ahead. When someone calls them on it, they say "fuck you". Eventually, someone official says "No, sir. Fuck YOU!"

Tesla then either waits or throws tantrums until someone official just says "Fuck it."




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