Local Motors Launches Urban Mobility Initiative

April 28, 2015 | By Business Wire News

PHOENIX

Local Motors today announces a major initiative to identify and solve some of the most complex urban mobility issues across the globe. This ambitious work examines the transportation problems of the future in cities around the world, with the first of these locations being in Berlin, Germany.

“At Local Motors, we view Urban Mobility as the ability to move freely within a densely populated area. We imagine a world where autonomous vehicles ensure that people get to and from where they need to be as quickly and safely as possible,” says John B. Rogers, Jr., CEO and co-founder of Local Motors. “Our goal is to harness the power of the crowd to find solutions that reduce cost, decrease time, and eliminate stress. Even more important is to reduce our carbon footprint across the globe without sacrificing personal transportation freedom.”

It all Begins in Berlin with a Challenge

Local Motors will unleash some of the best and brightest minds across the world by tapping into the company’s online community of engineers, transportation designers, and other specialists — all working together to co-create the solutions of tomorrow. Starting online at LocalMotors.com, Urban Mobility Challenge: Berlin 2030 focuses on the future and is framed with a question: “In 2030, what would an urban mobility system look like that is efficient, affordable, safe and sustainable for Berlin?”

“We chose to explore Urban Mobility first in the EU so we can learn from the countries that are already thinking about and solving the transportation issues of tomorrow,” says Rogers. “Within the EU, Berlin was a natural fit due to the planned growth and availability of a talented workforce in an engaged city that is focused on building the future.”

The Challenge is open for entries until June 7, 2015. Over $20,000 in cash prizes will be awarded across five categories. For more information, to submit an idea and to collaborate on the Challenge, visit LocalMotors.com.

Local Microfactories and Labs

The result of the collaborative work done via the Urban Mobility Challenge: Berlin 2030 will be innovative and imaginative solutions to Berlin’s transportation issues. Once the solutions have been identified and prizes have been awarded, the ideas will be presented to key stakeholders in Berlin, and Local Motors will bring the product ideas to life at a Microfactory in Berlin using Direct Digital Manufacturing (DDM), of which 3D-printing is a component among many others. The Microfactory in Berlin will be the first Local Motors presence outside of the United States and will include an LM Lab, a free space for the local community to collaborate, learn and experiment on the latest in vehicle and manufacturing technologies.

Direct Digital Manufacturing (DDM) Technology Disrupts the Status Quo

The auto industry faces three significant challenges to creating and iterating vehicles: high part count, total vehicle weight, and expensive tooling. The DDM process stands to address all three, opening the door for Local Motors to lead an exciting new era in automotive design and manufacturing possibilities. The first and only company to embrace this manufacturing technology, Local Motors is using DDM to bring the world’s first 3D-printed vehicles to market by 2016.

About Local Motors

Local Motors is a technology company that designs, builds, and sells vehicles. From bytes-to-bits, the Local Motors platform combines global co-creation with local micro-manufacturing to bring hardware innovations, like the world’s first 3D-printed car, to market at unprecedented speed. Discover more at localmotors.com.