Tesla Model 3 Cost-Savings: What a Quick Hoist Review Reveals
Tesla Model 3 cost-savings show up in places most buyers never see — underbody panels, small fasteners, and bracket choices that add up across hundreds of thousands of units. In a recent Munro hoist review, the team highlighted seemingly minor changes that compound into meaningful savings in parts, labor, and weight. For automotive engineers, EV […]
2021 Tesla Model 3 First Impressions: Improvements and Remaining Challenges
At Munro & Associates, our passion for expert teardown analysis drives us to dig deep into every new vehicle iteration. When the 2021 Tesla Model 3 arrived at our shop, excitement ran high. We hoped to see how much Tesla had refined its engineering, particularly around long-standing concerns like paint quality, build consistency, and cost-saving […]
Aptera’s Efficiency Playbook — What Engineers Can Learn From a Solar, Aero-First Three-Wheeler
Aptera’s solar-assisted, aerodynamic three-wheeler demonstrates how efficiency compounds across every system. Shape, cooling, and manufacturing choices combine to deliver range and cost advantages that conventional architectures cannot match. In a recent Munro team discussion, Aptera’s leaders detailed their approach. They explained solar “Never Charge” assumptions, mirrorless aerodynamics, in-skin cooling, and a microfactory strategy. Each element […]
Tesla’s 4680 Battery Design Evolution: A Deep Dive into Pack Architecture and Power
TTesla’s 4680 battery pack represents a pivotal leap in EV architecture, performance, and manufacturing economics. At Munro & Associates, we’ve dissected both the older 2170 cell design and the newer 4680 format to uncover how Tesla continues pushing the boundaries of lean automotive design. In this post, we explore the design rationale, electrical configuration, and […]
Bricklin’s Safety-First Design Lessons
Malcolm Bricklin’s career compresses hard-won lessons about safety, manufacturability, and cost into vivid, engineering-grade anecdotes — and those lessons map cleanly to today’s EV design challenges. Bricklin’s stories move from 10 mph energy-absorbing bumpers to acrylic body panels shaped on the world’s largest vacuum former. They show how constraint drives innovation. They also demonstrate how […]
Bricklin 3EV Three-Wheeler Safety | Munro Insights
Bricklin 3EV three-wheeler safety sits at the center of a timely conversation for engineers and investors evaluating new EV architectures. In a Munro & Associates discussion with Malcolm Bricklin, the team outlined a safety-first autocycle concept — pairing AmSafe belt-integrated airbags with a gyroscopic control strategy and tri-motor torque vectoring. The goal is simple and […]
Hummer EV, R1T, & the Cybertruck: What Teardown Thinking Reveals
When the engineers at Munro compare the GMC Hummer EV, the Rivian R1T, and the Tesla Cybertruck, it isn’t just a battle of spec sheets — it’s a clash of design philosophies with real consequences for reliability, cost, and off-road usability. At Munro & Associates, where teardown analysis and lean engineering drive insights into the […]
The Past, Present, and Future of EVs: Lessons from History and a Glimpse Ahead
The past is often the clearest crystal ball for predicting the future — especially in the automotive world. At Munro & Associates, we’ve seen how history offers striking parallels that can help engineers, investors, and enthusiasts understand where the market is heading. From the horse-drawn carriage era to the age of the internal combustion engine […]
Bronco vs. Wrangler: Expert Off-Road Tech Breakdown
The off-road world has long been dominated by Jeep’s Wrangler. But with the revival of the Ford Bronco, that dominance is facing serious competition. In this candid, deeply technical roundtable hosted by Munro & Associates, Sandy Munro is joined by Kevin Hardy and automotive journalist David Tracy of Jalopnik to dissect what makes these […]
Nobe Three-Wheeled EV: Retro Design Meets Modern Engineering
The Nobe three-wheeled electric vehicle is more than a car. It’s a bold statement. It shows where automotive design, sustainability, and engineering innovation meet. Nobe Cars USA, founded in Estonia, developed the concept. Munro & Associates will bring it to production. Together, they aim to redefine what drivers expect from a small, efficient, and stylish […]