The use of 3D printing technology for the automotive industry means that there's huge potential for customization, as well as more affordable transportation options that will be emerging.
Sanya Sihai is a Chinese company that has printed an electric-powered vehicle that has a fully 3D-printed exterior. The body of the car weighs in at just over 1,100 pounds, using up hundreds of pounds of filament in the printing process. In total, the car took about 5 days to print and about a month to assemble. Although this may seem like a bit of a wait compared to picking up a new model from a dealership and being able to drive off right away, including the costs of labor and electricity, the car only cost about $1,770 to manufacture.
Inexpensive 3D-Printed Cars
Sanya Sihai's Printed Car Exemplifies Affordable Transportation
Trend Themes
1. 3d-printed Automobiles - The use of 3D printing technology in the automotive industry provides disruptive innovation opportunities in terms of customization and more affordable transportation options.
2. Electric-powered 3d-printed Vehicles - The manufacture of electric-powered vehicles with fully 3D-printed exteriors presents disruptive innovation opportunities in the transportation industry.
3. Automotive Filament Printing - Innovations in niche additive manufacturing processes such as filament printing have disruptive potential in the automotive industry.
Industry Implications
1. Automotive Industry - The use of 3D printing technology and other innovative manufacturing processes in the automotive industry presents disruptive opportunities for manufacturers and suppliers.
2. Transportation Industry - Inexpensive 3D-printed cars and other novel approaches to affordable transportation offer disruptive innovation opportunities for the transportation industry.
3. Additive Manufacturing Industry - Emerging trends in 3D printing and other additive manufacturing technologies offer disruptive innovation opportunities for manufacturers in the automotive and transportation industries.