Local Motors Strati History

The Strati (Italian for 'layers') was created in collaboration with Oak Ridge National Laboratory and machine-tool maker Cincinnati Incorporated, and debuted at the International Manufacturing Technology Show in Chicago in September 2014. Its body structure was printed in 44 hours on a large-format Big Area Additive Manufacturing (BAAM) machine from a carbon-fiber-reinforced ABS thermoplastic blend — the result of a global crowdsourced design competition won by Michele Anoé of Italy.

Conventional steel or aluminium structures require approximately 30,000 individual parts; the Strati's printed monocoque reduced that to around 50 components. Drivetrain and running gear came from a Renault Twizy: a small electric motor driving the rear wheels with a range suited for urban use. The first public test drive took place on September 13, 2014, making it the first driveable 3D-printed car in history.

Local Motors produced a small number of Strati demonstration vehicles through 2015. The Strati was not offered for general sale but served as a proof-of-concept that large-scale additive manufacturing could replace traditional stamping and welding for low-volume vehicle bodies. It earned the company three Guinness World Records and was cited in Harvard Business School case studies on manufacturing innovation.