Local Motors

Co-creation was a technique employed by Local Motors to accelerate new product development and commercialization.{{cite web |last1=Eggers |first1=William D. |title=A billion to one - The crowd gets personal |url=https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/insights/us/articles/personalizing-customer-experiences-analytics/DR16_a_billion_to_one.pdf |website=deloitte.com |publisher=Deloitte Review}}{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/joannmuller/2015/07/01/big-ideas-small-scale-how-ge-is-using-the-wisdom-of-crowds-to-design-better-appliances/#10903f7b76dd|title=Big Ideas, Small Scale: How GE Is Using The Wisdom Of Crowds To Design Better Appliances|last=Muller|first=Joann|website=Forbes |access-date=2016-07-20}} Co-creation involves brands collaborating with customers to enhance products and services. Local Motors revolutionized this process through a web-based platform hosting design challenges and engineering hackathons. They partnered with companies such as Siemens to offer professional design tools like CAD to the community at affordable prices.{{cite web |title=Siemens PLM and Local Motors Form Partnership around Solid Edge and Crowdsourcing Design Approach |url=https://www.moldmakingtechnology.com/news/siemens-plm-software-and-local-motors-form-partnership-around-solid-edge-and-revolutionary-crowdsourcing-design-approach- |website=moldmakingtechnology.com |publisher=MoldMaking Technology}}

In addition to cocreating its own proprietary products, Local Motors partnered with select organizations to facilitate co-creation of their products, including Airbus,{{cite web|url=http://www.popsci.com/airbus-drone-design-contest-winners|title=Look At These Wild Drone Concepts Airbus Thinks Are The Future|date=14 July 2016 |access-date=2016-07-20}} GE,{{cite web |title=GE, LOCAL MOTORS PARTNER TO PIONEER NEW MODEL FOR MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY |url=https://pressroom.geappliances.com/news/ge-local-motors-partner-to-pioneer-new-model-for-manufacturing-industry |website=pressroom.geappliances.com/ |publisher=GE}} BMW,{{cite web |title=BMW Group and Local Motors team up to identify the future of class-leading functions for premium vehicles in an urban environment. |url=https://www.press.bmwgroup.com/global/article/detail/T0132124EN/bmw-group-and-local-motors-team-up-to-identify-the-future-of-class-leading-functions-for-premium-vehicles-in-an-urban-environment?language=en |website=bmwgroup.com |publisher=BMW Group}} IBM,{{cite web |last1=Lunden |first1=Ingrid |title=IBM’s Watson makes a move into self-driving cars with Olli, a minibus from Local Motors |url=https://techcrunch.com/2016/06/16/ibms-watson-makes-a-move-into-self-driving-cars-with-olli-a-minibus-from-local-motors/ |website=techcrunch.com |publisher=TechCrunch}} Goodyear,{{cite web |title=Goodyear Local Motors join forces on autonomous shuttles |url=https://news.goodyear.com/goodyear-local-motors-join-forces-on-autonomous-shuttles |website=goodyear.com |publisher=Goodyear}} Reebok,{{cite web |last1=Richard |first1=Brandon |title=Winner Announced for Reebok x Local Motors Rally Fighter ZigTech Design Contest |url=https://www.complex.com/sneakers/a/brandon-richard/winner-announced-for-reebok-x-local-motors-rally-fighter-zigtech-design-contest |website=complex.com |publisher=Complex}} Peterbilt,{{cite web |last1=Newcomb |first1=Doug |title=Peterbilt Crowdsourcing Future Big-Rig Designs |url=https://www.wired.com/2012/06/crowd-sourced-big-rig/ |website=wired.com |publisher=Wired}} DARPA,{{cite web |last1=Osha Gray |first1=Davidson |title=The First Crowd-Sourced Military Vehicle is Unwrapped |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/oshadavidson/2011/06/24/the-first-crowd-sourced-military-vehicle-is-unwrapped/ |website=frobes.com |publisher=Forbes}} Shell,{{cite web |title=Shell GameChanger and Local Motors Announce Grand Prize Winner of D.R.I.V.E.N., a Competition to Design for Future Mobility |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/shell-gamechanger-and-local-motors-announce-grand-prize-winner-of-driven-a-competition-to-design-for-future-mobility-143473656.html |website=www.prnewswire.com/ |publisher=Shell}} US Army,{{cite web|url=http://www.ref.army.mil/news3_cocreate.html|title=REF Rapid Equipping Force - United States Army|website=www.ref.army.mil|access-date=2016-07-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150421073046/http://www.ref.army.mil/news3_cocreate.html|archive-date=2015-04-21|url-status=dead}} ARPA-E,{{cite web |title=ARPA-E LITECAR Challenge Unveils the Future of Lightweight Vehicle Design |url=https://arpa-e.energy.gov/news-and-media/blog-posts/arpa-e-litecar-challenge-unveils-future-lightweight-vehicle-design |website=arpa-e.energy.gov |publisher=Advanced Research Projects Agency - U.S. Department of Energy}} and Domino's.{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/dalebuss/2015/10/21/dominos-gets-into-the-car-business-with-dpx-pizza-delivery-vehicle/#39e77a6e4724|title=Domino's Gets Into the Car Business With DXP Pizza-Delivery Vehicle|last=Buss|first=Dale|website=Forbes |access-date=2016-07-20}}

Local Motors' achievements in swiftly and affordably developing and bringing products to market drew interest from partners in neighboring industries eager to employ its crowdsourcing and advanced manufacturing techniques. Among these partners were companies like Airbus{{cite web |last1=McGee |first1=Patrick |title=Airbus signs deal to 3D-print drones and self-driving cars |url=https://www.ft.com/content/3e07394a-ec00-11e9-a240-3b065ef5fc55 |website=ft.com |publisher=Financial Times}} and GE,{{cite web |title=GE and Local Motors announce Fuse, a new business model for agile manufacturing |url=https://www.ge.com/news/press-releases/ge-and-local-motors-announce-fuse-new-business-model-agile-manufacturing |website=ge.com |publisher=GE}} who, in turn, became significant investors in Local Motors.{{cite web |last1=Gilbert |first1=Katie |title=Airbus Ventures Takes Off by Going Local |url=https://www.institutionalinvestor.com/article/2bsxuzh1raj0azn69li4g/portfolio/airbus-ventures-takes-off-by-going-local |website=institutionalinvestor.com |publisher=Institutional Investor}}{{cite web |last1=Gage |first1=Deborah |title=Airbus Ventures Invests in Local Motors to Shake Up Aerospace Industry |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/DJFVW00120160115ec1fawfkt |website=wsj.com |publisher=Wall Street Journal}}{{cite web |last1=Shieber |first1=Jonathan |title=Venture investments in new manufacturing technologies could reshape American industry |url=https://techcrunch.com/2016/05/02/venture-investments-in-new-manufacturing-technologies-could-reshape-american-industry/ |website=techcrunch.com |publisher=TechCrunch}}

The company’s innovative business model has been referenced widely in academia, featured in hundreds of media outlets, and is the subject of a Harvard Business School (HBS) case study.{{cite web |last1=Norton |first1=Michael I. |title=Local Motors: Designed by the Crowd, Built by the Customer |url=https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/item.aspx?num=38502 |website=hbs.edu |publisher=Harvard Business School}} Fast Company twice included Local Motors on its list of the world’s most innovative companies.{{cite web |title=Most Innovative Companies 2016 |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/most-innovative-companies/2016/sectors/automotive |website=fastcompany.com |publisher=Fast Company}} The company holds three Guinness World Records{{cite web |title=First Crowdsourced Car Design |url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/114198-first-crowdsourced-car-design |website=guinnessworldrecords.com |publisher=Guinness World Records}}{{cite web |title=First crowdsourced military vehicle |url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/114196-first-crowdsourced-military-vehicle-design |website=guinnessworldrecords.com |publisher=Guinness World Records}}{{cite web |title=First 3D-printed car |url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/397524-first-3d-printed-car |website=guinnessworldrecords.com |publisher=Guinness World Records}} and won two Popular Mechanics Breakthrough Awards.{{cite web |last1=Dyer |first1=Ezra |title=2014 Popular Mechanics Breakthrough Awards |url=https://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/a12821/the-first-3d-printed-car-breakthrough-awards-2014/ |website=popularmechanics.com |publisher=Popular Mechanics}}{{cite web |title=The 2016 Popular Mechanics Breakthrough Awards |url=https://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/a22691/2016-breakthrough-awards/ |website=popularmechanics.com |publisher=Popular Mechanics}}

The Rally Fighter was introduced in 2009, as the first car to be developed using co-creation design. The exterior design was submitted by Sangho Kim and selected through community votes.

File:Strati overall.jpg by Local Motors]]

{{Main|Strati (automobile)}}

In collaboration with Cincinnati Incorporated and Oak Ridge National Laboratory Local Motors manufactured Strati, the world's first 3D printed electric car.{{cite news|last1=Gastelu|first1=Gary|title=Local Motors 3D-printed car could lead an American manufacturing revolution|url=https://www.foxnews.com/auto/local-motors-3d-printed-car-could-lead-an-american-manufacturing-revolution|access-date=22 September 2014|publisher=Fox News|date=3 July 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140908015042/http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2014/07/03/local-motors-3d-printed-car-could-lead-american-manufacturing-revolution/|archive-date=8 September 2014}} The printing took 44 hours to complete, and was witnessed by a live audience at the 2014 International Manufacturing Technology Show in McCormick Place, Chicago.{{cite news|last1=Franklin|first1=Dallas|title=Made in Chicago: World's First 3D Printed Electric Car|url=http://kfor.com/2014/09/15/made-in-chicago-worlds-first-3d-printed-electric-car/|access-date=22 September 2014|publisher=KFOR-TV|date=15 September 2014}} The car consists of 50 individual parts, far less than a traditional vehicle (which is manufactured with roughly 30,000 parts).{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/eshachhabra/2015/12/30/the-3d-printed-car-that-could-transform-the-auto-industry-on-sale-in-2016/#27b12914502c|title=The 3D Printed Car That Could Transform The Auto Industry: On Sale In 2016|last=Chhabra|first=Esha|website=Forbes |date=December 30, 2015|access-date=2016-07-20}} The Strati was designed by Michele Anoè,{{cite web|url=http://www.imts.com/show/newsletter/insider/article-details.cfm?articleid=20|title=The 3D-Printed Car Is All the Buzz|website=www.imts.com|access-date=2016-07-20}} a member of the Local Motors community, and is produced in small quantities to serve strategic partnerships, such as with NXP Semiconductors.{{cite web|url=https://cocreate.localmotors.com/blog/post/local-motors-nxp-unveil-3d-printed-car-with-self-driving-iot-technology/2032/|title=Local Motors, NXP unveil 3D-printed car with self-driving, IoT technology {{!}} Local Motors|date=2016-05-18|language=en-us|access-date=2016-07-20}} Strati gained widespread recognition and numerous accolades, including an SXSW Innovation Award,{{cite web |title=SXSW 2015 Interactive Innovation Award Winners Unveiled |url=https://www.sxsw.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/2015-SXSW-Interactive-Innovation-Awards-Winners-Release_final3.pdf |website=sxsw.com |publisher=SXSW Interactive}} a Popular Mechanics Breakthrough Award,{{cite web |title=The 3D-Printed Car |url=https://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/a12821/the-first-3d-printed-car-breakthrough-awards-2014/ |website=popularmechanics.com |publisher=Popular Mechanics}} and a Guinness World Record.{{cite web |title=First 3D-printed car |url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/397524-first-3d-printed-car |website=guinnessworldrecords.com |publisher=Guinness World Records}}

In 2015, the company debuted a 3D-printed car named the LM3D Swim.{{cite web|url=http://www.autoblog.com/2015/11/06/the-lm3d-swim-from-local-motors-is-the-first-3d-printed-car-you/|title=The LM3D Swim from Local Motors is the first 3D-printed car you can buy [w/video]|last=Bruce|first=Chris|website=Autoblog|date=November 6, 2015|access-date=2019-08-15}} It was designed by Kevin Lo, a member of the Local Motors community.{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/business/autos/startup-plans-start-selling-first-3d-printed-cars-next-year-n388766|title=Startup Plans to Begin Selling First 3D-Printed Cars Next Year|website=NBC News |date=June 23, 2015|access-date=2019-08-15}} The materials used are 80 percent ABS plastic and 20 percent carbon fiber. The vehicle uses technology provided by IBM that offered IoT connectivity.{{cite web|url=http://www.ibmbigdatahub.com/blog/connecting-road-octoblu-ibm-and-local-motors|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160623051842/http://www.ibmbigdatahub.com/blog/connecting-road-octoblu-ibm-and-local-motors|url-status=dead|title=Connecting the road with Octoblu, IBM and Local Motors|archive-date=2016-06-23}} The Swim is currently on display at the company's location in National Harbor, Maryland.

File:Goodyear Olli Genf 2019 1Y7A5023.jpg

In 2016, the company unveiled an autonomous, electric-powered bus.{{cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2016/6/16/11952072/local-motors-3d-printed-self-driving-bus-washington-dc-launch|title=This autonomous, 3D-printed bus starts giving rides in Washington, DC today|last=Warren|first=Tamara|date=2016-06-16|website=The Verge|access-date=2016-07-20}}{{cite web|url=http://www.autoblog.com/2016/06/16/local-motors-olli-autonomous-shuttle/|title=The Local Motors Olli is a driverless EV minibus with IBM Watson inside|last=Counts|first=Reese|website=Autoblog|access-date=2016-07-20}} The vehicle was designed by Edgar Sarmiento, initially named the "Berlino" from the Urban Mobility Challenge: Berlin 2030. The French tech entrepreneurs Damien Declerq and Gunnar Graef have been instrumental in organizing the challenge in Berlin.{{cite web|url=https://cocreate.localmotors.com/eddie_mauro/berlino-30-smart-mini-bus-system/|title=Berlino 3.0 - Smart mini bus system {{!}} Local Motors|date=2015-05-01|language=en-us|access-date=2016-07-20}} Local Motors built the vehicle and has IBM Watson technology installed to provide a personalized experience for riders. The vehicle was demonstrated live to their online audience on Facebook Live{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/localmotors/videos/10154144618226597/|title=Local Motors - Timeline {{!}} Facebook|website=www.facebook.com|access-date=2016-07-20}} at a media event in National Harbor. On January 2, 2018, Local Motors received a pledge of up to a $1 billion in financing and operational support to customers of Olli from Florida-based Elite Transportation Services (ETS) with additional funding of $20 million from Texas-based Xcelerate.{{Cite web|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/local-motors-secures-over-1-billion-in-financing-for-olli-customers-300576430.html|title=Local Motors Secures Over $1 Billion In Financing For Olli Customers (Press Release)|date=January 2, 2018|website=PR Newswire|language=en|access-date=2019-08-15}}

Olli was manufactured in Knoxville, Tennessee, using additive manufacturing techniques, including 3D Printing.{{cite web|url=https://cocreate.localmotors.com/blog/post/building-olli-why-second-degree-ddm-is-critical-to-the-process/2052/|title=Building Olli: Why "Second-degree DDM" is critical to the process {{!}} Local Motors|date=2016-06-24|language=en-us|access-date=2016-07-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161010153715/https://cocreate.localmotors.com/blog/post/building-olli-why-second-degree-ddm-is-critical-to-the-process/2052/|archive-date=2016-10-10|url-status=dead}} Traditional Steel-Tube chassis Olli vehicles were produced in Chandler, Arizona.

Miami-Dade County, the State of Nevada and the Danish Vesthimmerland Municipality expressed interest in using Olli on their roadways.{{cite web|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/blog/2016/06/local-motors-unveils-olli-its-new-self-driving-car.html|title=Local Motors unveils Olli, its new self-driving car, in National Harbor (Video)|website=Washington Business Journal|access-date=2016-07-20}}{{cite web|url=http://lasvegassun.com/news/2016/jun/16/self-driving-minibus-to-hit-streets-in-las-vegas/|title=Self-driving minibus to hit streets in Las Vegas|date=2016-06-16|access-date=2016-07-20}}{{Cite news

| author = Sebastian Stryhn Kjeldtoft

| author-link = Sebastian Stryhn Kjeldtoft

| title = Førerløse busser skal spare tid og penge

| language = da

| publisher = Information

| date = 2016-07-27

| url = https://www.information.dk/indland/2016/07/foererloese-busser-spare-tid-penge

}}

As of January 2020, Olli has been deployed at the United Nations ITCILO campus in Turin, Italy to provide transport shuttles to employees and guests within the campus.[https://newmobility.global/autonomous/autonomous-shuttle-olli-deployed-turin-italy/ Autonomous shuttle Olli deployed in Turin, Italy] JAN 17, 2020

On December 17, 2021, an Olli bus operated by Durham Region Transit in Whitby, Ontario, being driven in manual mode, suddenly lost control and crashed into a tree. The attendant was critically injured and rushed to a trauma center in neighbouring Toronto.{{cite web|url=https://toronto.citynews.ca/2022/01/05/autonomous-bus-was-in-manual-mode-when-it-crashed-seriously-injuring-man-in-whitby/|title=Whitby autonomous bus in manual mode when it crashed, driver seriously injured: police}}

Another pilot, the West Rouge Automated Shuttle program, was announced in spring 2021 by the Toronto Transit Commission from Rouge Hill GO Station, but the service was never started after the demise of Local Motors in 2022.{{cite web | url=https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/self-driving-shuttle-pilot-project-ends-without-giving-a-single-ride-1.5759664 | title=Self-driving shuttle pilot project ends without giving a single ride | date=28 January 2022 }}

Local Motors had microfactories in Phoenix, Knoxville, Las Vegas, Louisville,{{cite web |title=Innovation Acceleration: GE Appliances Selects Louisville for For First Micro-factory |url=https://pressroom.geappliances.com/news/innovation-acceleration-geappliances-selects-louisville-for-first-micro-factory |website=geappliances.com |publisher=GE Appliances}} and Washington, DC.{{cite web |last1=O'Connell |first1=Jonathan (Jan 12 2015)|title=National Harbor to open 3-D car printing factory and showroom |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/capitalbusiness/national-harbor-to-open-3-d-car-printing-factory-and-showroom/2015/01/12/2f14a690-9a91-11e4-a7ee-526210d665b4_story.html |website=The Washington Post |publisher=The Washington Post |access-date=12 January 2015}}{{cite web |last1=Holowaty Krales |first1=Amelia (Jun 17, 2016) |title=Inside the Local Motors lab where 3D-printed autonomous buses are made |url=https://www.theverge.com/2016/6/17/11962776/local-motors-olli-3d-printed-autonomous-bus-photos |website=theverge.com |publisher=The Verge}}

In February 2017, Local Motors closed its Las Vegas location.{{cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/news/2017/02/01/exclusive-local-motors-lays-off-employees-shifts.html|title=EXCLUSIVE: Local Motors lays off employees, shifts gears to autonomous vehicles and white-label software|last=Ringle|first=Hayley|date=Feb 1, 2017|website=The Business Journals (Phoenix Business Journal)}}

Local Motors closed on 14 January 2022, with their closure announced by Chris Stoner, their former VP of sales and customer success.{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2022/01/13/local-motors-the-startup-that-created-the-olli-autonomous-shuttle-has-shutdown/|title=Local Motors, the startup behind the Olli autonomous shuttle, has shut down|last=Bellan|first=Rebecca|date=Jan 14, 2022|website=TechCrunch|access-date=2022-01-14}}

• Open design
• Microfactory
• Open innovation
• Creative Commons

{{Reflist}}

• [http://automobilityla.com/speaker/john-b-rogers-jr/ About John B. Rogers Jr.] [https://web.archive.org/web/20161121131427/https://automobilityla.com/speaker/john-b-rogers-jr/ Archived copy]

{{Automotive industry in the United States}}

Category:2007 establishments in Arizona

Category:Car manufacturers of the United States

Category:Manufacturing companies based in Phoenix, Arizona

Category:Electric vehicle manufacturers of the United States

Category:Open hardware vehicles

Category:3D printed objects

Category:Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 2007

Category:Vehicle manufacturing companies disestablished in 2022

Category:American companies established in 2007

Category:American companies disestablished in 2022

Category:Transportation in Phoenix, Arizona