Local Motors introduces a new division, Forth

Sept. 20, 2016 – Local Motors has launched a new division, Forth, describing it as a “crowd-powered, Software as a Service (SaaS) platform and related services that enables companies to transform and digitize their product development process using co-creation and micro-manufacturing.”

“The launch of Forth is a proud moment for me as it demonstrates to the world that co-creation and micro-manufacturing of vehicles is leading the way for rapid product development and commercialization across many other industries,” said John B. Rogers, Jr., Local Motors co-founder and CEO. “The time is now for digital and industrial to come together in products that delight us and make our world better. The last century of manufacturing is not fit for the products of the next century, and Forth is showing the world that if we can change the vehicle industry to incorporate a digital future in its process and products, then we can do the same in every industry across the world.

As more and more companies harness the power of co-creation, the movement grows, benefiting not only the community, but internal employees and customers as well. It is high time that we bring products with the latest technology to market at unprecedented speed.”

According to the company, co-creation has always been at the heart of local Motors, which says it has “practiced and nearly perfected the process over the past decade while creating and launching all of the products in the company’s vehicle portfolio,” including the Rally Fighter co-created vehicle, the Strati 3D-printed car, and most recently, the Olli cognitive, autonomous vehicle with IBM Watson technology.