About two months back, a pioneering car rolled out of a factory in Los Angeles, hitting the streets.
Its creation largely came from an impressive 3D printer known as the Czinger 21C. Yet, this electric hypercar isn’t merely a gadget.
With an eye-watering starting price of $2 million, this two-seat powerhouse—featuring one seat upfront and another in the rear—can reach a blistering top speed of 253 mph, accelerating from 0 to 62 in just 1.9 seconds.
“Now it’s the fastest hypercar on the planet,” shared Lukas Czinger, COO of Divergent, the firm behind this innovation. “And it’s completely road legal.”
While the car’s cool factor is through the roof, it also represents a brand-new manufacturing framework. Divergent can produce parts in a way similar to how computers send information globally and generate hard copies.
This technology isn’t confined to automobiles; it opens possibilities like building houses. “Yes,” confirmed 29-year-old Czinger from Los Angeles, “we can construct virtually any metallic structure.”
Divergent claims this will revolutionize how cars and various other items come to life.
“We’re breaking the supply chain,” Czinger explained (for clarity, the “C” is silent, making it pronounced “Zinger.”). “The printer itself creates the final product, eliminating concerns over supply issues.”
But let’s be real—it’s not a budget-friendly venture. Developing these printers cost a staggering $500 million before one even rolled off the production line. “Securing funds was quite the challenge,” Czinger confessed. “It’s a capital-intensive process, but the core idea is to redefine manufacturing.”
The printer, weighing around 2 tons, boasts dimensions similar to two shipping containers stacked. It utilizes metallic powder and a laser to build components layer by layer.
“For a single part,” Czinger elaborated, “you might find up to 5,000 layers. Someday, each printer could serve as its own factory. That’s what we call digital manufacturing.”
Czinger envisions a future where these printers can produce everything from a Ferrari rear frame to, say, a cruise missile for Lockheed Martin, all in a matter of moments.
The brainchild behind Divergent, Lukas and his father, Kevin Czinger, initiated the company in 2014 after Kevin’s diverse career in law and investment banking.
“When we got things moving, I left my banking job, took a leap of faith, and backed Kevin’s vision along with my own,” Lukas noted.
Creating one of their cars involves about 1,000 hours, compared to the old-fashioned manual process that could add about another 600 hours.
Divergent may be steering the future of automotive manufacturing, but there’s much more at play.
Interestingly, electric vehicles often face battery replacement issues, a new area for growth. “China has companies working on battery replacements,” noted Philip Kampshoff, a McKinsey & Company partner focused on the automotive field.
Tesla once considered battery replacements but decided against it. Kampshoff added, “Eventually, customers could benefit from new or improved battery generations for upgrades, but for now, that’s not achievable.”
On the flip side, Divergent’s increased number of 3D printers could mean immediate access to hard-to-find parts. Kampshoff pointed out that suppliers for specific components could face challenges, as 3D printers allow for instant reproduction without needing to hold inventory.
A tech venture partially funded by Jeff Bezos aims to simplify customization for consumers. Slate’s platform lets people design their vehicles to their liking, starting at around $20,000.
“Slate is promising because it enables significant customization. It may seem contradictory, but it’s not,” Kampshoff stated. “If they deliver on their claims, it’s practical, useful, and budget-friendly.”
And, it’s possible that you won’t need to be among the wealthiest individuals to step into the world of personal car manufacturing.
Czinger predicts that more individuals will take risks in electric vehicle startups that cater to specialized markets. “We’re seeing microcity cars in China ideal for navigating tight spaces,” he observed.
“Decades ago, starting a car company would seem absurd, but today, with electric vehicles, it’s somewhat feasible, and people are more willing to experiment,” Maigs concluded.
“The future holds exciting possibilities,” he added.
