3D Printed Car Manufacturer XEV Boasts 30,000 Orders

June 8, 2020 by Bridget O'Neal 3D Printing

Share this Article

The ongoing pandemic has caused major disruption to the global economy, halting business and consumers from their normal purchases—big and small—and the automotive industry was certainly not spared. Many countries have continued to deal with the fallout and China is no exception, with auto sales taking a big hit. Prior to COVID-19, Italian firm XEV (short for X-Electrical Vehicle) had announced plans to open its third production facility in Shanghai, aside from the already-established Italy and Hong Kong sites.

Recent news is more uplifting for car sales in China now, however, and especially for 3D-printed cars by XEV, which drew great interest in China last year. The Italian auto manufacturing company remains heavily engaged with the Chinese market, further cementing models from Europeans also (with up to 30,000 orders there so far) at the Valentino Auto Show with the presentation of the YOYO.

XEV has also continued to expand globally, with reports that they have signed numerous other contracts regarding sales to include the Middle East and a variety of different agreements regarding “customized enterprise vehicles” to work with businesses like:

Italian Post
Arval Leasing Company
Q8 Petroleum Company (Kuwait Petroleum Company)
Campello Motors

New car delivery is due soon also, with the first phase of orders gong into mass production. Slated for December 2020, European orders should be filled from the initial batch of 3D-printed car models. Manufacturing plans are said to be proceeding smoothly, on target with the 30,000 orders.

Manufacturing facilities for companies like XEV reflect the potential future for automotive applications, using technology that may not only better for the environment overall, but also more affordable and efficient, potentially offering better performance and the ability to create parts previously impossible. In fact, the company projects that XEV factories may actually decrease expenses and development time by a staggering 90 percent.

The XEV team is impressive in terms of design and engineering, presenting not only a unique style for modern cars but also control systems. Output of orders is expected by XEV to reach 100,000 in Europe in the next several years, with companies such as Dutch auto dealer CarSupply building XEV showrooms in cities like Amsterdam, Brussels, Hamburg, Stockholm, and Copenhagen. They will also be involved in annual events, and promotions such as online purchase programs for consumers.

Overall, ties remain very strong in the Chinese automobile market as XEV continues to place an emphasis on affordably, customized vehicles with as little waste as possible and maximization of smart technology and comprehensive data compilation.

3D printing continues to evolve within the automobile industry, beginning with long-time manufacturers who have been creating parts and prototypes for decades. This includes luxury carmakers like BMW and Rolls Royce. As 3D-printed cars become more accessible and affordable, we should continue to see more from companies like XEV and Local Motors.

What do you think of this news? Let us know your thoughts! Join the discussion of this and other 3D printing topics at 3DPrintBoard.com.

[Source / Images: NetEase ; Business Korea]