Urbee was a 2010 hybrid-vehicle prototype whose exterior body was made using 3D printing. The “first 3D-printed car” description refers to that body—not to a complete automobile printed as a working object. KOR EcoLogic developed the project with Stratasys as its additive-manufacturing partner.
What was the Urbee?
Urbee was a low-energy hybrid vehicle prototype developed by Winnipeg engineering group KOR EcoLogic. Its design goal was efficient travel for short daily errands. Autodesk’s 2010 account describes it as a hybrid electric-and-gasoline vehicle, while the project’s public claims also referred to gasoline or ethanol.
In October 2010, Stratasys announced that it was working with KOR EcoLogic and called Urbee the first prototype car whose entire body had been 3D printed using an additive process. The announcement specifies that exterior components—including prototypes of glass panels—were produced with Dimension 3D Printers and Fortus 3D Production Systems through Stratasys’s RedEye on Demand service. Stratasys’s October 28, 2010 announcement is the source for that “entire body” wording.
Was the whole car 3D printed?
No. The claim is about the exterior body and its components. The project and supplier announcements do not say that the chassis, drivetrain, or all functional systems were printed. Urbee was a functioning vehicle prototype incorporating conventionally distinct vehicle systems, with an additively manufactured exterior—not one complete car printed as a single object.
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Autodesk said KOR EcoLogic used Inventor, Showcase, and Alias Design during the design process. It also described digital prototyping to simulate road and wind conditions and compare body designs. These design and simulation tools helped shape the vehicle; they are separate from the physical manufacturing process used for its exterior. Autodesk’s December 2, 2010 announcement describes that work.
How was Urbee’s body made?
Stratasys reported producing the exterior components with additive manufacturing, a process that builds parts in layers rather than shaping them by removing material from a solid block. The company named its Dimension printers and Fortus production systems, delivered through its RedEye on Demand service. This description applies to the body and exterior parts—not every component needed to make the vehicle operate.
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SEMA’s 2011 retrospective also described Urbee’s exterior as additively manufactured and recalled its presentation at the 2010 SEMA Show. Founder Jim Kor said people wanted to see a partly finished vehicle, reflecting the project’s unusual manufacturing approach and public interest at the time. SEMA’s 2011 account, “Just Hit Print,” provides that event context.
What mileage did Urbee claim?
The mileage figures were claims reported by the project’s partners in 2010, not independently verified standardized ratings. Stratasys reported more than 200 mpg highway and 100 mpg city on gasoline or ethanol, specifying U.S. gallons. It also gave a combined city/highway figure of about 150 mpg. The same release listed Imperial-gallon equivalents of 250 mpg highway and 125 mpg city. These are historical prototype claims; they should not be treated as tested ratings for a production car.
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Autodesk’s December 2010 release used different wording, describing Urbee as achieving up to 200 mpg. That figure is Autodesk’s phrasing, not an average or a reconciliation of the separate Stratasys numbers. Neither announcement supplies an independent standardized test validating the claims.
Did Urbee win the Automotive X Prize?
The sources support saying that Urbee participated in or was a contender for the 2010 Automotive X Prize, not that it won. Stratasys said the prototype competed in the 2010 X Prize Competition; Autodesk called it a contender for the 2010 Automotive X Prize. The project’s appearance at the 2010 SEMA Show was another milestone in its public presentation.
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Is Urbee available to buy?
The available project and supplier announcements document a prototype and its design and manufacturing claims; they do not establish that Urbee entered production or is currently offered for sale. Stratasys mentioned a finished 1/6-scale model displayed at a booth, but that reference does not establish a retail model. The sources cited here also do not establish current road-legal status or the project’s present-day status.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What “first 3D-printed car” means
| Question | What the sources establish |
|---|---|
| What was 3D printed? | The prototype’s exterior body and components, according to Stratasys’s 2010 announcement. |
| Was the complete working car printed? | No such claim is made. The announcements do not say the chassis, drivetrain, and all functional systems were printed. |
| Were the mileage figures verified ratings? | No independent standardized test is identified in the announcements; the figures are partner-reported prototype claims. |
| Was Urbee a production vehicle? | The cited sources describe a prototype and do not establish retail availability. |
Jim Kor, KOR EcoLogic’s president and chief technology officer, said Urbee was designed to be efficient and to run on renewable energy. That statement describes design intent; it is not independent evidence of the vehicle’s actual renewable-energy use or lifecycle impact.
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