Tesla patents single-piece plastic dash for cars
Tesla describes a method for making a car's dashboard and firewall from one large, molded plastic piece. This single panel combines the dash and the cowl area, with built-in channels for air vents and spots to attach other car parts.
In the filing’s own words
In some examples, a method of manufacturing an integrated vehicle body structure includes forming a monolithic molded plastic panel that defines a vehicle barrier extending across at least a portion of a vehicle cabin width. The monolithic molded plastic panel integrates a dash structure and a cowl structure for the vehicle. The method includes attaching components to the panel and mounting it into the vehicle. The panel may incorporate HVAC ducting, pre-assembled NVH panels on both wet and dry sides, connection points for vehicle systems, reinforcement ribs, embedded glass fiber, and molded-in datum pins. The vehicle body structure includes the monolithic molded plastic panel that provides the integrated dash and cowl structure when mounted to a vehicle, creating a barrier between the passenger cabin and external elements. The structure may include pre-assembled NVH panels spanning the vehicle cabin width, integrated connection points for vehicle systems, and channels for perimeter seals.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A method of manufacturing an integrated vehicle body structure for a vehicle, the method comprising: forming a monolithic molded plastic panel to define a transverse vehicle barrier extending across at least a portion of a vehicle cabin width, the monolithic molded plastic panel defining an integrated dash and cowl structure for the vehicle; attaching one or more components to the monolithic molded plastic panel; and mounting the monolithic molded plastic panel into the vehicle to define the transverse vehicle barrier.
Facts
- Company
- Tesla (Tesla, Inc.)
- Official title
- PLASTIC MODULAR STRUCTURAL DASH
- Publication number
- US20260307489A1
- Application number
- 19098697
- Filed
- Apr 2, 2025
- Published
- Oct 8, 2026
- Inventors
- 7
- Claims
- 20
Classified under
B60K 37/10 Operations & transportB60K 37/20 Operations & transportB60K 2360/65 Operations & transportMore from Tesla in Cars & transport
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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.