Strati: the first (almost) entirely 3D-printed car

With the exception of its tires, electric motor and battery, the Strati is made entirely of 3D-printed parts. The vehicle was assembled last week at the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) in Chicago.

Local Motors lived up to its goal, announced in March of this year, of 3D-printing a convertible two-seater in under five days.

The exceptional vehicle is made of just 40 parts, compared to the around 2,000 found in a conventionally manufactured car. Each part was 3D-printed in plastic reinforced with carbon fiber, a process that took around 44 hours altogether. Local Motors equipped the 3D-printed body with an electric motor, the same one used to power the Renault Twizy.

Beyond carrying off an impressive technical feat, the project aims to demonstrate that this original production method could potentially be more cost-effective than car makers' current manufacturing techniques.

For this ambitious project, Local Motors partnered with the Manufacturing Demonstration Facility at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, a division of the US Department of Energy.

Launched in 2010, Local Motors brings together engineers, designers, car fans and other innovators, who pay a small subscription fee to take part in vehicle manufacturing projects.

Learn more about the Strati: localmotors.com/3dprintedcar