Tesla Model 3, Chevrolet Bolt, BMW i3 Teardowns - 3 Different Ways To Build An EV

Tesla Model 3, Chevrolet Bolt, BMW i3 Teardowns - 3 Different Ways To Build An EV
Munro & Associates in Auburn Hills, Michigan is in the business of taking cars apart. The company’s teardown reports reveal the juicy details of every single component – how they work, where they came from and how much they cost. Automakers pay sizable sums for these reports, in order to figure out what their competitors are up to. Sandy Munro’s 2018 teardown of a Tesla Model 3 delivered some important insights into the California carmaker’s strengths and weaknesses.


Read Article

MDarringerMDarringer - 4/19/2019 10:47:59 AM
0 Boost
How many times do these bastards say "really really"? Baldo needs to give up the fussy hair. It's "TeSSSSla" not "TeZZZZla".


MDarringerMDarringer - 4/19/2019 6:52:04 PM
+1 Boost
Constipation is a bad thing, sir.


CANADIANCOMMENTSCANADIANCOMMENTS - 4/19/2019 12:15:57 PM
+6 Boost
The comparison is interesting. GM seemed to want to make a regular ICE car. BMW was focused on size and wanted to make a tiny city car. Tesla was focused on making a practical sedan (3 Series/A4 sized) that was a pure electric vehicle. All three could have made different choices, but they didn't.


MDarringerMDarringer - 4/19/2019 12:24:53 PM
+1 Boost
GM wanted to build an affordable EV, so it did so without having to reconfigure an entire plant to make it happen and the result is that the Bolt is $30K cheaper than the Model 3. The BMW is just hella stupid engineering for the sake of hella stupid engineering.


SanJoseDriverSanJoseDriver - 4/20/2019 12:36:53 AM
+1 Boost
The 2019 Bolt starts at $36,600, the Model 3 starts at $35,000 ($39,500 for the model with Autopilot and similar range to the Bolt). The difference is the 3 is much faster and much more fun to drive, better looking, has the pano roof, and more comfortable. Autopilot and OTA updates are the icing on the cake. I respect the Bolt, but unless you get one deeply discounted it's not a smart option versus a low-end 3.


SanJoseDriverSanJoseDriver - 4/20/2019 12:40:55 AM
0 Boost
I just specced out a Bolt and the closest one to the $39,500 Model 3 costs $42,885-- and it is still far slower with no pano roof. It also has lane keep assist, not Autopilot.. it won't control the steering for you. It just beeps when you go over the lane.


MDarringerMDarringer - 4/20/2019 9:36:22 AM
+3 Boost
@SanJoseDriver Be honest. The average Bolt is very close to $36K whereas the average Model 3 is about $25-30K HIGHER. The fake $35K Model 3 is a unicorn.


TomMTomM - 4/20/2019 5:53:35 PM
0 Boost
More important - the Bolt actually has MORE interior room than a Tesla S.



SanJoseDriverSanJoseDriver - 4/22/2019 3:19:40 AM
+1 Boost
If we're talking averages, it might be $15k higher at this point, only because of the Full Self Driving upgrade option and AWD/Performance versions of the Model 3 which are nonexistent on the Bolt. It's not an apples to apples comparison to put up the Bolt against a car that can do 0-60 in just over 3 seconds.


MDarringerMDarringer - 4/22/2019 10:04:41 AM
+1 Boost
You mean the full self-driving upgrade that can be fooled easily and when drives you at high speeds into things to kill you? No thanks.


SanJoseDriverSanJoseDriver - 4/23/2019 4:54:06 AM
+1 Boost
You should loop up what was announced today and see some of the demos that were done for investors.


SanJoseDriverSanJoseDriver - 4/23/2019 4:54:19 AM
+1 Boost
*look


CarCrazedinCaliCarCrazedinCali - 4/19/2019 9:01:39 PM
+2 Boost
Cool video! I didn't know that much about the different types of batteries being used, so that was super informative. It will surely be interesting to see the evolution of all three!


MrEEMrEE - 4/19/2019 10:28:22 PM
+3 Boost
Sad for GM that after all the time and investment, they still needed to rely heavily on LG and still lag far behind Tesla. Ford is even worst off.


mre30mre30 - 4/20/2019 11:08:57 PM
-1 Boost
Bolt's and Leaf's do not spontaneously burst into flames.

Hmmmm...perhaps there is something with the Tesla battery system design that makes them more likely to fireball?

SJD - on your way back from Sushi day in the Tesla cafeteria, can you ask your friends in engineering about this?


SanJoseDriverSanJoseDriver - 4/25/2019 1:54:51 AM
+1 Boost
How about BMW recalling 1 million vehicles for a risk of spontaneous combustion when not in operation? https://abcnews.go.com/US/bmw-recalls-million-vehicles-fire-risk/story?id=50922136

Not much publicity there huh?


Copyright 2026 AutoSpies.com, LLC