Two models envisioned by Arizona-based company.
By Raif Karerat
WASHINGTON, DC: 3D printing has already begun to revolutionize various aspects of manufacturing across a variety of commercial enterprises, and the automotive industry may be next on the list.
The Arizona-based company Local Motors recently revealed designs for what its first consumer-ready 3D printed electric car might look like, and said that it aims to begin selling its first street model as soon as next year.
The startup company is looking to manufacture two models of the ReLoad Redacted car, namely the ReLoad Swim and ReLoad Sport.
To come up with the ideal consumer model, the company hosted a design competition and enlisted industry experts as judges, as well as car enthusiast and former host of “The Tonight Show” Jay Leno, reported Business Insider. On Tuesday, Kevin Lo, an engineer living in Vancouver, Washington, was announced the winner.
The ReLoad Redacted vehicle will sell for anywhere between $18,000 to $30,000 for a low-speed neighborhood car, a spokesperson said.
In order to make its vision a reality, Local Motors plans to set up a series of compact factories that are a fraction of the size and cost of traditional automotive facilities, reported NBC news.
“Micro-factories are a great counterpoint because they employ an economy of scope by taking advantage of low-cost tooling and co-creation, resulting in the ability to get products to market faster and in less time while using less capital to find a winning concept,” co-founder John B. Rogers Jr. explained.
While 3D printing technology is less expensive and complex than operating an assembly line it is also significantly slower. It currently takes days to print out a car’s body, but research into techniques that could increase printer speeds up to 500-fold is ongoing, according to NBC.