At the Detroit Motor Show, the small American manufacturer Local Motors printed a car in 3D. After 44 hours, the Strati was driving around the aisles of the show. Although certain parts (including the engine) had to be assembled in the traditional manner, this demonstration by Local Motors heralds the many changes that 3D printing should bring to the automotive industry.
Facilitating local production
Automotive manufacturers generally outsource the production of their vehicle components to hundreds of sub-contractors, then assemble the various elements. This is a very costly process in terms of transport, both from financial and environmental points of view.
With 3D printing, the design of the parts might well remain the business of sub-contractors, but their production could be concentrated on a single site. Likewise, instead of requiring a multitude of different production lines, it will be possible to produce the majority of parts with a single 3D printer.