Local Motors, carmaker out of Arizona, is selling it’s first 3D printed car model at $53,000. The LM3D Swim is the result of crowd-sourcing and a careful selection from a wide pool of submissions. Ken Lo of Portland, OR, built the first LM3D prototype in September, and nearly 75% of it is 3D printed. It blended 80% ABS plastic and 20% carbon fiber to bring a fully functional and quite good looking 3D printed car.
Local Motors has extensive car building expertise, even when it comes to those of the 3D printed kind. The company came to prominence with the Rally Fighter, and it is now on pursuit to bring 3D printed cars to the market.
The company 3D printed a full sized version of their Strati model for the 2014 International Manufacturing Technology Show in Chicago and for the 2015 Detroit Auto show, using an electric power train from the Renault Twizya. The car only required 40 parts for assembly, and it was printed on the showroom floor in 44 hours.
The LM3D Swim will be the first 3D printed car to be seen on highways, and Local Motors will start accepting deposits for the car via a crowd funding they’ll open in 2016. Meanwhile, Local Motors is looking to have the car crash tested and safety certified, and it will make the car will be available publicly through retail channels. As things currently stands, the company will be able to produce 2,400 units per year.
