Oddities

Sometimes we find news with one foot in the automotive world and the other somewhere weird. These are some of those.

Mystery at Tesla: 65,000 Coffee Mugs Missing

Tesla's German Gigafactory has reported the baffling disappearance of 65,000 coffee mugs, despite having only 12,000 employees. This equates to about 77 daily thefts since the factory's opening in 2022.

Plant manager Andre Thierig warned that continued mug thefts could lead to the removal of cutlery from break rooms. This incident adds to a list of controversies at the factory, which has faced allegations of safety violations and environmental breaches.

Humanoid Robots: The Future of Car Manufacturing

Robotics startup Figure released a video last week showing its 01 humanoid robot performing tasks at a BMW car plant. The 01 robot demonstrated moving multiple components with precision, showcasing its potential to handle repetitive, low-skill tasks. The robot uses neural networks to learn tasks and can work in human-designed spaces without requiring costly factory redesigns. BMW and Mercedes-Benz have both signed agreements with robotics startups to explore these innovations, while Tesla is developing its own humanoid robot, Optimus.

Toyota's Workout Seat: Exercise While You Sit

Toyota has unveiled a new seat designed to give you a workout while sitting. The seat tilts and moves subtly, causing muscles to tense and relax, akin to using a balance ball for core training. This innovative design engages inner muscles throughout the body, potentially reducing back pain and improving muscle coordination without the need for traditional exercise.