GM Acquires Tesla's Sand 3D Printing Partner TEI, Reshuffling Gigacasting Supply Chain

General Motors acquired TEI, the 3D-printed sand mold provider that was instrumental in Tesla's gigacasting innovations, forcing Tesla to turn to alternative casting partners in Britain, Germany, and Japan. TEI's expertise in sand casting enabled Tesla's breakthrough process of die-casting entire EV underbodies as single pieces. The acquisition signals GM's serious push into gigacasting while potentially disrupting Tesla's manufacturing edge.