As smart manufacturing is leading a new industrial revolution, the world’s first 3D-printed production electric car was unveiled at the China 3D-Printing Cultural Museum in Shanghai on March 11.

(The electric car is 3D printed. [Photo/Kankanews.com])

The automobile body is created using 3D printing technology, saving the use of molds, welding, stamping and other processes. The production cycle of 3D printing is much shorter, saving two-thirds of the time it takes to produce traditional electric cars.

(An interior view of the 3D-printed electric car [Photo/Kankanews.com])

(3D-printed components and parts [Photo/Kankanews.com])

Meanwhile, the amount of plastic used in manufacturing has been significantly reduced, as the number of plastic parts has been cut down to 57 from thousands. The vehicle only weighs a whopping 450 kilograms. However, the chassis, power system, and tires of the car are still manufactured in conventional ways.

Currently available for test drive, the vehicle is expected to be produced in small batches by the end of this year. It will be put into production next April and the listed price will be around 50,000 to 60,000 yuan. To the excitement of the carmakers, there are already 7,000 orders from Europe, mainly for postal logistics and time-sharing leases.