Used for 3D printing of Japanese Daihatsu vehicle custom design 'Effect Skin'
Unveiled unique custom design to be applied to the exterior of the new Copen 2-door Convertible

Stratasys announced that Japanese automaker Daihatsu has presented a vision for mass customization by applying 3D printing to mass-produced vehicles, becoming the first major automaker to do so.

Over the past three years, the scope of 3D printing has expanded beyond prototyping to include manufacturing tooling and small-batch production applications. Furthermore, 3D printing is expected to be utilized in customized mass production in the consumer goods sector.

Daihatsu, located in Ikeda, Osaka, Japan, conducted a joint project with 3D printing solution Stratasys, industrial design firm Znug Design, Inc.'s Kota Nezu, and 3D modeling artist Sun Junjie to actually realize the possibility of customized mass production.

Designers created 15 'effect skins' featuring geometric shapes and organic patterns, and 3D printed them in 10 different colors using a Stratasys Fortus 3D printer. Consumers can choose from a variety of options to create a one-of-a-kind custom design. This skin can be ordered and applied to the front and rear bumpers and fenders of the Copen vehicle.

"Effect Skin" was produced on a Fortus® 3D printer using Stratasys' ASA thermoplastic resin, which features high durability, UV protection, and an aesthetic appearance. Osama Fujishita, who oversees business planning at the Daihatsu Brand DNA Office, said, "Previously, development alone took two to three months, whereas now production is possible within two weeks." He added, "On-demand production using 3D printing offers the clear advantage of establishing efficient supply chain management, as well as providing customers with more options."

While traditional manufacturing methods could only achieve economic viability through economies of scale—that is, mass production—the 'Effect Skin' project demonstrates that 3D printing can be a solid alternative for manufacturing custom-made products that reflect individual consumer tastes and designs. "This project would have been impossible with traditional manufacturing processes or mold methods," said Cota Nezu of Tznag Design.