Today, Honda Motors Co., Ltd. announced that they have released the 3D data of several past concept vehicles which were popular among car enthusiasts over the last two decades. All the data is free, under version 4.0 of Creative Commons licenses, and anyone can use it to 3D print out their own models of the vehicles in the release. What the license also does is allow designers to modify the designs of any of the models as long as they do not profit from them.

Initially Honda has made available the 3D data of five different concept vehicle models. They include the 1994 FSR, 1999 Fuya-Jo, 2003 Kiwami, 2007 Puyo, and the 2014 Acura NSX concept. All were popular with auto enthusiasts at one time. Honda has released the models, seeking to give everyday car buyers a chance to understand what goes into the manufacturing process, and hopes that in doing so, they will encourage many young men and women to consider engineering and design as possible career choices.

This is clearly a marketing strategy which Honda intends to use to develope brand loyalty, and interest in their vehicle lineup. Designers can modify the vehicles however they see fit, and then share them via their social networks. Instead of handing out branded merchandise at car shows, they have found a cheap, yet interesting, and possibly viral method to appeal to a large audience. Get started downloading your models today at Honda-3d.com.

Below you will find a video of Honda printing our a model of their 2007 Puyo via a Makerbot Replicator 3D printer:

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