Feb.11, 2014
Local Motors, Inc. today announced that Bre Pettis, CEO of MakerBot, has joined its Board of Directors, effective January 30, 2014. Pettis has been CEO of MakerBot since co-founding the company in 2009. Now MakerBot has established one of the largest installed bases of desktop 3D printers.
Local Motors is a next generation American car company. It co-creates vehicles and related components with a global community of designers, engineers, fabricators and enthusiasts. About the appointment of Pettis as an independent Board member, Jay Rogers, CEO of Local Motors, said:
"I have long admired Bre as a great American entrepreneur. He is, at his core, an independent maker and innovator who successfully pursued these passions to become a defining figure in the Maker Movement and Third Industrial Revolution. His thoughtful advice will be of immeasurable value as we continue our march to democratize production methods using advanced manufacturing techniques."
Local Motors Rally Fighter wearing custom-designed MakerBot Racing vinyl wrap, and featuring parts 3D-printed using a MakerBot Replicator2.
In the end of last month, Local Motors and Oak Ridge National Laboratory have signed a new partnership to develop and deliver technology to produce the world's first production 3-D printed vehicle. Local Motors believes Pettis' expertise will play an important role in driving Local Motors' intention to build the first production vehicle completely from additive manufacturing by the end of 2014.
Of his decision to join the Local Motors Board, Pettis said, "I've watched with amazement as Local Motors has pioneered a co-creation and micro-manufacturing model that has democratized the development and production of complex machines, effectively transforming consumer choice from supply-driven to demand-driven. Not to mention I've wanted a Rally Fighter, their first community co-created product, from the moment I saw it. I'm a car guy at heart. That vehicle really speaks to the power of the crowd. I'm finally building my own in April."
The addition of Pettis increases the number of Local Motors Board members to four. He joins existing Board members Jay Rogers, Thomas D. Lehrman and Mark Smith. Lehrman co-founded and formerly served as co-CEO of the Gerson Lehrman Group, the world's most successful expert network. Smith founded Factory Five Racing, the world's largest maker of component cars.
Posted in 3D Printing Company
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