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Local Motors

ApplicationPhoenix, Arizona, USAFounded 2007· One of 381 Application companies tracked by AMPulse

A digital vehicle manufacturer that used crowdsourced designs and 3D printing-enabled micro-factories to build innovative vehicles like the Strati 3D-printed car and the Olli autonomous shuttle.

CEO / Founder
John B. Rogers, Jr.
Team Size
51-200
Stage
Defunct
Total Funding
$15M
Latest Round
Venture Round
Key Investors
GameAbove, Airbus Ventures, GE Ventures, VTF Capital

Technology & Products

Key Products

["Olli (Autonomous electric shuttle)","Strati (World's first 3D-printed electric car)","Rally Fighter (Crowdsourced off-road vehicle)"]

Technological Advantage

The micro-factory model enabled decentralized, low-volume, and capital-efficient production, allowing for rapid design iteration. Their core technological advantage was expertise in large-format additive manufacturing for vehicle production, which drastically reduced part count, tooling costs, and development time.

Differentiation

Value Proposition

To rapidly and cost-effectively design and build next-generation, open-source vehicles through a combination of community co-creation and localized, direct digital manufacturing.

How They Differentiate

Local Motors stood apart through its open-source design philosophy and flexible micro-factory model, which contrasted with the traditional, high-volume manufacturing approaches of competitors. Its use of large-scale 3D printing for primary structures was a key technological differentiator.

Market & Competition

Target Customers

Municipalities, corporations, universities, and transportation providers seeking innovative and sustainable autonomous mobility solutions.

Industry Verticals

["Automotive","Transportation","Manufacturing"]

Competitors

Navya; EasyMile; Canoo

Growth & Milestones

Growth Metrics

Ceased operations in January 2022 due to a lack of funding to scale production and operations.

Major Milestones

["2007: Company founded.","2010: Launched the Rally Fighter, the first crowdsourced vehicle.","2014: Live 3D-printed the Strati car in 44 hours at the International Manufacturing Technology Show.","2016: Unveiled Olli, the self-driving, cognitive electric shuttle.","2018: Announced a $1B financing pledge to support Olli customers.","2022: Ceased all operations."]

Notable Customers

Sacramento State University; University of Buffalo; City of Toronto; Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall

https://localmotorsllc.com

Why this company matters

Local Motors pioneered a decentralized vehicle manufacturing model that replaced traditional tooling-intensive production with direct digital manufacturing. By operating micro-factories and using large-format fused filament fabrication, the company could produce low-volume, open-source vehicles with drastically reduced part counts and development times.

The company's core technology centered on large-format polymer material extrusion for full-size vehicle structures. The Strati, live-printed in 44 hours at a trade show in 2014, demonstrated the feasibility of printing an entire electric car chassis and body as a single piece. Olli, an autonomous electric shuttle unveiled in 2016, integrated IBM Watson AI for cognitive interaction with passengers.

Local Motors targeted municipalities, universities, and corporate campuses for its Olli shuttle, with deployments at Sacramento State University, the University of Buffalo, and Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall. The Rally Fighter, a crowdsourced off-road vehicle launched in 2010, proved the co-creation concept before the company shifted fully to autonomous mobility.

Despite significant media attention and functional deployments, Local Motors ceased operations in January 2022 after failing to secure the funding needed to scale production. Its IP portfolio, including a patent for autonomous vehicle refueling, was acquired by RapidFlight in July 2023. The company's open-source, micro-factory approach remains a reference point for decentralized additive manufacturing in automotive applications.