The order placement process differs from conventional procedures. Tesla employees usually send suppliers inquiries about the components they want. However, the specification, with which carmakers normally specify properties such as material or tolerances, is missing. As specialists, suppliers are supposed to define these themselves. “Now you make the assumptions yourself in the offer and add your price,” says Christian Walter, sales manager at toolmaker Siebenwurst. At the same time, he says, Tesla is a demanding customer that always asks for the maximum. “What established carmakers do in 36 months, Tesla has to do in half that time – at better prices for speed,” says Walter.