There are few areas of manufacturing that 3D printing has yet to touch, thanks to US-based, Local Motors, 'automotive' can be removed from that list.
The Arizona firm's Strata car has been built from 49 3D parts, made of re-enforced carbon fibre and black plastic. It took just 44 hours to build, according to a report by Barcroft Media.
The car, which suggests a blue-print for how vehicles of the future could be designed and built, was constructed during Chicago's International Manufacturing Technology Show at the start of October.
John Rogers, Local Motors’ CEO, said, "We are the first company to make a 3D-printed car using carbon fibre-reinforced thermoplastic."
But naturally there were some parts of the Strata that could not be made with the 3D printing technology used in the process – provided by machine toolmaker, Cincinnati Inc.
The electric motor, tyres, wheels, battery, suspension and wiring were all manufactured using traditional automotive processes. There are 3D printing units that can make metal or rubber components, but none with the ability to successfully manufacture such complex components as those listed above.
How much does it cost?
Far from being an expensive novelty, Local Motors plan to sell their vehicle for around $14,000 (£8,630) in the future, although no concrete launch date has been revealed as yet.
We're not sure if regular annual breakdown cover policies will cover 3D printed cars, but if and when they do, you'll hear about it here first!
See pictures of the car here: http://nypost.com/2014/10/08/worlds-first-3d-printed-car-only-took-45-hours/
Breakdown Cover from 
