Swim 3D-printed Car (Photo : Local Motors)
By spring 2016, Local Motors will begin to accept pre-orders for its 3D-printed car. The price tag for its LM3D series, including the new Swim model, is $53,000.
Mashable reports that the Swim, which looks like a dune buggy, would be made in a microfactory in Konxville, Tennessee. Local Motors expects the plant to be finished by the end of 2015. The firm will use direct digital manufacturing to make the Swim and other 3D-printed vehicles under its LM3D series.
Commenters of netizens who saw the video of Local Motors on YouTube showed belief in the company to doubt on the strength of such a vehicle.
J XXX notes that many car manufacturers have started to use 3D-print parts for the next-gen vehicle, resulting in a complex design that uses stronger but less materials. J XXX adds that the triangle shape is the strongest design.
Zeev Kirsh warns that as a production vehicle, the Swim is "completely pointless," except if it is modeled after Tesla by making money on carbon credits, tax rebates and the IPO market which he says is "the biggest raquet scam of all."
John Baldwin hopes that Local Motors would test the vehicle's body against "elements of freezing" as well as "blistering temperatures" to see how the car holds up of material cohesion and foreseeable defects under the two opposition conditions.
The firm, which expects to ship the first batch of cars by early 2017, would be the first to sell 3D-printed cars to the public. Audi, which makes also 3D vehicles, however, only offers race car replicas at a 1:2 scale as collectors' item.
Local Motors defended the $53,000 sticker price which appears to be pricey in comparison to the Strait model car that sells only for $18,000. The Tennessee-based firm explains that it's because the Swim is a "fully homogulated, highway ready car."
The 2016 Mercedes-Benz E-Class also costs about $53,000 which had Mashable ask if there would be motorists willing to shell that amount for a 3D-printed vehicle. Local Motors insists that the Swim would have "a lot more creature comforts" to justify its sticker price.
