BigRep unveil the world’s first fully 3D printed electric car
It's only a matter of time before we can 3D print an entire car, no matter how complex it is, in one run complete with embedded electronics, power, and sensors.
Key takeaways
- One day all cars will be 3D printed and designed and evolved by creative machines and Artificial Intelligence (AI), in much the same way these robots and other products have been.
- Today General Motors are using AI’s to design their next generations of vehicles, and a couple of years ago the first 3D printed bus emerged.
- Named Loci, the curvy four wheeler measures 85 by 146 by 285 cm and is put together from 14 unique components printed using the company’s BigRep Pro, Studio G2 and One 3D printing machines.
Cite or link to this article
Griffin, M. (2020) 'BigRep unveil the world’s first fully 3D printed electric car', 311 Institute, 5 January. Available at: https://www.311institute.com/bigrep-unveil-the-worlds-first-fully-3d-printed-electric-car/ (Accessed: 8 October 2026).
One day all cars will be 3D printed and designed and evolved by creative machines and Artificial Intelligence (AI), in much the same way these robots and other products have been. And that revolution is already underway – even if it has a long road to run until it’s fully played out. Today General Motors are using AI’s to design their next generations of vehicles, and a couple of years ago the first 3D printed bus emerged. But, as technologies and trends evolve, and as innovations accelerate, soon we could see the day where rather than just 3D printing individual car parts or chassis, cars will be printed complete with all their electronics and battery systems embedded, all in one run. And that day is drawing closer thanks to the arrival of multi-material 3D printers that enable just that.
For now though, while we wait for technologies and processes to mature Germany's BigRep has unveiled one of the world’s first 3D printed self-driving sports cars that’s made up of just 14 3D printed parts and an electric powertrain and self-driving tech.
Watch the promo video. Courtesy BigRep.
Named Loci, the curvy four wheeler measures 85 by 146 by 285 cm and is put together from 14 unique components printed using the company’s BigRep Pro, Studio G2 and One 3D printing machines.
The body, meanwhile, is 3D printed using the company's own Pro HT material, BigRep's PLX material is used for the bumpers, the beams and joints are created using Nylon 6 (PA6/66), and the tires from thermoplastic polyurethane. There's no information at all on the electric drivetrain or the autonomous tech installed, but BigRep does mention a touchscreen media hub, surround sound audio, wireless smartphone charging and LED lighting.
The Loci prototype currently comes in three distinct flavors. The Berlin model is envisioned as a single-seater campus commuter, and features TPU airless tires and components embedded with NFC chips that can be scanned using a mobile phone to help with identification, but that could include sensors to track the status of each part in the future.
Urban commuters are the target for the San Francisco variant, which features a narrow body, two passenger seats and a single door to the right that lifts up to provide cover for passengers exiting in the rain. The Dubai concept provides luxury airport transport and sports solar panels, luggage space and desert-ready rugged tires.
At the moment, you can think of Loci as a design study for a “possible future production platform.” BigRep says that the flexibility of the 3D printing production process allows for limited runs to be churned out with quick turnaround times, and the basic design can be modified to suit local needs.
FAQ
Why does this matter?
It's only a matter of time before we can 3D print an entire car, no matter how complex it is, in one run complete with embedded electronics, power, and sensors.
About the author
Matthew Griffin Founder, 311 Institute
Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath."
Read full bio
Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath." 15-time best selling author of the "Codex of the Future" series, Matthew is the Founder and Futurist in Chief of the 311 Institute, a global Futures and Deep Futures advisory firm working with royal households, world leaders, G7, G20, and G77 governments, NGOs, and multi-national mid and mega cap firms to help them explore, shape, and lead the next 50 years of business and society.
An award-winning YouTube creator with over a million followers, with an unrivalled global reach and impact, Matthew is a highly sought-after international keynote speaker, lecturer, and mentor who collaborates with global leaders through the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to shape pivotal initiatives such as the UN’s AI for Humanity program, the United Nations Conference of the Parties (UN COP), and the World Economic Forum in Davos.
As the former Global Head of Cloud, National Security, and Enterprise Sales for companies including Atos, Dell-EMC, and IBM, Matthew has a proven track record of building multi-billion dollar business units and turning failing divisions into market leaders. His ability to identify, analyse, and communicate the implications of hundreds of emerging technologies and trends is unparalleled, and his insights are trusted by many of the world’s most respected organisations, including ABB, Accenture, Adidas, AON, ARM, BCG, Centrica, Citi, Coca-Cola, Dentons, Deloitte, Dow Jones, EY, Google, KPMG, Lego, Legal & General, LinkedIn, Microsoft, PepsiCo, Qualcomm, RWE, Samsung, Siemens AG and Siemens Energy, T-Mobile, UBS, VISA, Walmart, Workday, Worldpay and many others.
Regularly featured in the global media including the AP, BBC, Bloomberg, CNBC, Discovery, Forbes, Khaleej Times, Telegraph, TIME, ViacomCBS, WIRED, and the WSJ, Matthews mission is to help organisations create a fair and sustainable future whose benefits are shared by everyone irrespective of their ability, background, or circumstances.
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Sources and further reading
- A creative ai designed nasas next spider like interplanetary lander 311insitute.com
- Evolving robots discover new ways to walk thanks to ai advances 311insitute.com
- Creative machines 311insitute.com
- Artificial intelligence 311insitute.com
- Norwegian robot learns to self evolve and 3d print itself in the lab 311insitute.com
- Under armours new trainers are inspired by nature designed by an ai and 3d printed 311insitute.com
- General motors 311insitute.com
- design their next generations of vehicles 311insitute.com
- first 3D printed bus 311insitute.com
- multi-material 3D printers 311insitute.com
- enable just that 311insitute.com
Source: first published by the 311 Institute on 5 January 2020. Cite as: Griffin, M. (2020). BigRep unveil the world’s first fully 3D printed electric car. 311 Institute. https://www.311institute.com/bigrep-unveil-the-worlds-first-fully-3d-printed-electric-car/
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