Ford equipped its new Maverick pickup truck with convenient slots to customize the cars with DIY 3D printed accessories.
Ford Maverick is advertised as a pickup truck for makers and creative people. So those who like to manufacture things will find things to do. The body of this compact 5-seater with a hybrid powertrain is rather small: around 4.5 feet (1.36 meters) in length with the hatch door up. The car is full of power sockets, locking rings, straps and notches for 2x4 and 2x6 boards. There is everything needed to fasten small cargo and install DIY structures. But the list does not end here.
The FITS (Ford Integrated Tether System) system can be found inside. It consists of eight multi-purpose T-shape fastening slots for various accessories, cupboards, shelves, bag hangers, trash cans, etc. One of the slots is located at the rear side of the center console between the front seats, and seven more are placed in drawers under rear seats. It is interesting that Ford is planning to publish the slot geometry and dimensions, so the drivers will be able to 3D print the needed accessories themselves.
Interestingly enough, if one prints these on a resin 3D printer such as the Phrozen Sonic 4K, they would be able to produce parts that look as polished as an injection-molded part. The common concern with using FDM-printed parts is they have visible layering, especially at the bottom of the print, but resin printers - working with a minimum layer height of up 10 microns - are able to mitigate that downside.
Ford promises to make STL files public but does not mention when. It seems that one needs to wait for the official release of the truck, which seems to happen in the fall of 2021. Those who do not own 3D printers can ask someone else to make the parts for them or buy standard accessories directly from the manufacturer. (If you want to own one, check out this guide).
Something similar was once offered by BMW in 2017 but it had a more decorative purpose. The Bavarian manufacturer launched a service to customize Mini-branded cars using additive technologies. The owners could order personalized panels, illuminated rocker panels, doors, LCD projectors and frames for turn signals. The company closed the project in the beginning of 2021 without citing a reason.
