Press and Releases

Parent Company of Local Motors Organizes Challenge to Accelerate Deployments, Enable Winning Cities to Educate the Public on Autonomous Mobility

SAN FRANCISCO (September 27, 2018) — LM Industries Group Inc., the world’s first digital OEM, and its subsidiaries Launch Forth and Local Motors today unveiled a first-of-its-kind global autonomous fleet challenge. The challenge invites municipalities, campuses and designated districts to propose a three-month, local use for Olli, the world’s first co-created, self-driving, low-speed, electric shuttle.

“The world is eagerly searching for innovative solutions for sustainable transportation. Over the past few weeks, we’ve provided nearly 2,000 Olli rides to thrilled audiences including government decision makers,” Jay Rogers, CEO and co-founder of LM Industries, said. “This challenge is a meaningful opportunity for local and business leaders to take the next step and put their collective heads together to envision how mobility is going to change in their communities, and then have the opportunity to immediately test that vision.”

The first challenge is open to entries from the greater Phoenix and Sacramento areas. Two winners of this challenge will each receive a pod of Ollis sized to their proposed use case and location before the end of the year. Entries will be evaluated by a panel of esteemed judges, including Sandra Watson, CEO and President of Arizona Commerce Authority and Congresswoman Doris Matsui of California’s 6th District, which encompasses Sacramento, before Ollis are deployed to a series of selected locations. The second fleet challenge will launch in Australia and the Nordics, with additional challenges to follow in the coming months.

“Arizona is proud to be a place where companies come to test and scale transformative, cutting-edge technology,” commented Watson. “We’re thrilled that LM Industries, which has called Arizona home to its Local Motors division headquarters for many years, is continuing to innovate in our state in new ways. The Challenge will empower local organizations to participate in shaping the future of autonomous mobility from the operations, public safety and policy perspectives. I look forward to seeing the projects advanced that will help define the next generation of transportation.”

“The Olli challenge from LM Industries paves the way for those in my home district of Sacramento, and across California, to explore how autonomous vehicles can best serve their communities,” said Congresswoman Matsui. “Participants will gain direct insight into public benefits of autonomy, learn how to ensure roadway safety, and enhance our global competitiveness in the Innovation economy. I’m proud to be a part of this collaborative project as it encourages innovation and helps build frameworks for regulation.”

Olli, an environmentally-friendly vehicle designed to change the future of mobility, employs a robust autonomous drive system developed by Robotic Research. It is approximately 30% 3D-printed, utilizing direct digital manufacturing which allows us to bring Olli to market at an unprecedented speed. A safe and efficient shuttle, Olli is a viable and sustainable transportation option for cities, hospitals, campuses, entertainment districts and any other location where people need to move from one place to another.

To learn more about Olli, visit localmotors.com. To learn more about the fleet challenge, visit the challenge page at Launch Forth.

About Local Motors

Local Motors by LM Industries Group Inc. is a ground mobility company focused on shaping the future for the better. Founded in 2007 with a belief in open collaboration and co-creation, Local Motors began low volume vehicle manufacturing of open-source designs using multiple microfactories. Since inception, Local Motors has debuted no less than three world firsts; the world’s first co-created vehicle, the world’s first 3D-printed car and the world’s first co-created, self-driving, electric vehicle, Olli. We believe that Olli is the answer to a sustainable, accessible transportation solution for all.

About LM Industries

LM Industries exist to shape the future for the better. We make technology forward products using the four pillars of our innovation ecosystem: co-creation, microfactories, direct digital manufacturing, lab partnerships. We begin every product with community-powered, human-centered design and by reinventing manufacturing with microfactories, we create big things on a smaller scale for the local communities that actually need them. Our process breaks down the barriers to sustainable product development – reducing waste, consuming less energy, and ensuring we use only the materials we need. We have the unrivaled capacity to make the improbable come to life. Based in San Francisco, LM Industries is the parent company of Local Motors and Launch Forth.

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