At the International Manufacturing Technology Show 2014 in Chicago last week, Local Motors has unveiled the first 3D printed car, reports SBS. Manufactured in just 44 hours, the “Strati” (Italian for layers) is set to challenge the traditional methods of car manufacturing. The mechanical components – battery, wiring, suspension – are sourced from a variety of suppliers, including an electric motor from Renault’s Twizy. The Strati was printed and then assembled by the design team at the show, followed up with an historic test drive.
The Strati has a total of 40 parts, compared to a traditional vehicle with around 20,000. The project has been collaboration between Local Motors, the Association for Manufacturing Technology (AMT) and its Oakridge National Laboratory and Cincinnati Incorporated.
You can view the Local Motors press release here.