Tesla will not become a Toyota clone, says vice president of manufacturing

Gilbert Passin, Tesla’s vice president of manufacturing, said that acquiring the NUMMI auto plant will make his job a lot easier.

Passin is known for having led the way for Tesla Motors to go into mass production but despite this direction, he will still do things the Tesla way (not Toyota’s). In an interview with Automotive News, Passin said that Toyota’s production system is a “very good base” but that he is focused on innovations to make the factory greener, safer, and cleaner. He also plans to use other best practices to make it a superior factory. Last May, Tesla acquired New United Motor Manufacturing Inc. in Fremont, Calif., from Toyota Motor Corp. as part of a new partnership between the two companies.
Read Article

WorldofLuxury - 6/1/2010 7:27:21 PM

0 Boost

I hope all these auto industry treaties don't spark some sort of war; the connections between Toyota and Lotus and their affiliates (or ex-employees) are pretty complicated.

Seriously though, both Toyota and Lotus have some great, underrated minds.