The partnership also plans to build an automobile research institute, indicating that 3D printed cars will become a reality in Jiading. The research institute will focus on innovating auto manufacturing technologies and will offer auto companies technical services to help them lower R&D costs and speed up product development.
Lu Bingheng, chief engineer of the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Center and an academic at the Chinese Academy of Engineering, said the research institute will strengthen R&D in the new energy vehicle sector. Lu anticipates the institute will help to produce tailored auto bodies for electric cars, which will be much lighter than traditional auto bodies.
The National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Center is the only one of its kind in China and focuses on cutting-edge technology R&D in the manufacturing industry and the commercialization of cutting-edge technologies.