Detroit – Local Motors revealed the LM3D Swim, a 3D printed electric car, at the 2015 Detroit Auto Show. It will be available next year for around $53,000. The vehicle certainly looks like a toy, but this revolutionary car will help reduce production costs and allow customers influence on its design once they order it.
The vehicle was designed by Kevin Lo, a Local Motors community member who won the company’s Project Redacted challenge in July. Nearly 75% of the vehicle is 3D printed. They used a blend of 80% ABS plastic and 20% carbon fiber, making customizable each of these parts.
As announced by the Arizona-based company, they will begin pre-selling models in spring 2016. Manufacturing and delivery are expected by early 2017.
“We are using the power of DDM to create new vehicles at a pace unparalleled in the auto industry, and we’re thrilled to begin taking orders on 3D-printed cars next year,” Local Motors CEO Jay Rogers said to the crowds at this month’s SEMA show in Las Vegas.
According to a company’s statement, the firm is working on crash testing certifications in order to allow the LM3D to be driven legally on the highways. They plan to build a series of different models, which will be produced at a new Local Motors micro-factory currently under construction in Knoxville, Tennessee. Besides, Local Motors is also pursuing another one in the Washington D. C. area. In addition, they hope to open 100 new locations throughout the next 10 years. So far, they own a micro-factory in Las Vegas and headquarters in Phoenix. As soon as production starts, they will be able to reach up to 2,400 LM3D cars annually.
Although the LM3D will be the first to hit the highways, it is not the only 3D printed car Local Motors has built. Their broad experience printing cars includes the successful Rally Fighter, which is a crowd-sourced off-road vehicle. This move led to pursuing their concept of 3D printed cars. Another example is a printed version of its Strati model, a car built by using an electric power sourced from a Renault Twizy and they only had to assemble 40 parts of it. The Strati was printed in almost 44 hours at the 2014 International Technology Show in Chicago and this year’s Detroit Auto Show.
Source: Digital Trends