From its crowd-sourced design process to the micro factories it owns in two U.S. locations in Chandler, Arizona and Las Vegas, Nevada, Local Motors isn’t your typical company, and it’s about to get even more innovative with the delivery of the first electric car built in front of an audience using 3D-printing technology.

Over the course of a few days during this September’s International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) in Chicago, Local Motors will use a special 3D printer made by Oak Ridge National Labs (ORNL) to build an electric vehicle, which it says, has been designed “for the urban transportation needs of Chicago”.

What makes ORNL’s 3D printer stand out aside from the crowd is a router attachment that has the ability to remove material after it has been printed for greater complexity and machine-like precision.

While 3D printing technology is still in its infancy, further down the line, it could have a huge impact on the industry as a whole, giving smaller companies like Local Motors an affordable tool to bring their designs to life.

“To deliver the first co-created, locally relevant, 3D-printed vehicle on an international stage dedicated to celebrating cutting-edge manufacturing technology is powerful reinforcement of our commitment to driving the Third Industrial Revolution,” said Local Motors CEO Jay Rogers.

Local Motors has not released any pictures of the EV model it plans to build at IMTS.

By John Halas

Story References: Local Motors, MSNAutos via Green.Autoblog

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