Ford released the blueprints for the design of the Ford Maverick's FITS (Ford Integrated Tether System) so that users can create their own accessories and customize their pickup. There are eight FITS slots in the vehicle, located in places like under the seats or within storage bins. These small notches allow for accessories like cup holders and phone mounts to be added.
Since most households do not have their own 3D printer, this option allows Ford Maverick owners to take their designs to a third-party service for 3D printing. Additionally, users don't have to feel the pressure to create from scratch, since many designs are already archived online for easy customization. With these 3D-printed auto accessories, Ford owners get to explore creativity and customization in an entirely new way.
3D-Printed Auto Accessories
The Ford Maverick's FITS Helps to Customize Accessories for the Car
Trend Themes
1. 3d-printed Auto Accessories - Ford's release of their FITS blueprints creates a trend of utilizing 3D printing for customized auto accessories.
2. User-generated Designs - Allowing customers to create and print their own accessory designs leads to a trend of user-generated content and opens up opportunities for crowdsourced innovation in the auto industry.
3. Open Source Design - By making their designs publicly available, Ford creates a trend of open source design and encourages collaboration and innovation in the realm of auto accessories.
Industry Implications
1. 3D Printing - The use of 3D printing for auto accessories creates opportunities for companies to provide 3D printing services to car owners who want personalized designs.
2. Automotive - The rise of customized auto accessories creates new opportunities for the automotive industry, including partnerships with companies specializing in 3D printing or online marketplaces for user-generated designs.
3. Crowdsourcing - The open-source nature of Ford's initiative encourages collaboration and crowdsourcing, creating opportunities for companies to capitalize on the trend of user-generated content and open innovation in various industries.