PLANO, Texas: – Siemens PLM Software, a business unit of the Siemens Industry Automation Division and a leading global provider of product lifecycle management (PLM) software and services, today announced a new offering based on its Solid Edge® software that makes professional-level computer-aided design (CAD) available to the design enthusiast at an unprecedented value. Solid Edge Design1 will be introduced through Local Motors, a Siemens PLM Software partner, exclusively to the Local Motors global design community for a monthly subscription price of $19.95.

In conjunction with today’s announcement, Local Motors and Siemens PLM Software are making available, for a limited time, a downloadable trial of Solid Edge Design1. The trial is being made available now through the end of the year to select Local Motors community members. The entire global community will then be able to purchase Solid Edge Design1 software subscriptions starting Jan 1, 2012. Also, available immediately, Local Motors and Siemens PLM Software are providing a new, free 3D viewing experience to the Local Motors community based on Siemens PLM Software’s widely used JT™ data format. Siemens PLM Software announced its partnership last month with Local Motors, a next generation American car company that employs a unique approach to vehicle design called co-creation.

By offering professional CAD at an affordable price, Solid Edge Design1 establishes a new category of CAD software for design and engineering enthusiasts that fills the gap between free or low-cost solutions with limited functionality, and higher priced full-function commercial solutions. Solid Edge Design1 is based on the same technology found in the full function version of Solid Edge and includes capabilities such as core assembly and 3D part modeling with synchronous technology, a unique capability which combines the speed and flexibility of direct modeling with the precise control of dimension driven design.

“Solid Edge Design1 is a unique and ideal CAD solution for enthusiasts around the world who participate in the Local Motors collaborative design community,” said Karsten Newbury, senior vice president and general manager, Mainstream Engineering Software Business Segment, Siemens PLM Software. “Solid Edge was selected by Local Motors for its functionality and the benefit synchronous technology brings to their collaborative product development model, which harnesses the creativity of automotive design and engineering enthusiasts working in a variety of environments and possessing a diverse set of skills and experience. These designers want robust and very specific CAD functionality that is affordable and available on their personal computer whether on or off-line. With today’s announcement we’re investing in this promising new frontier of product design, and making it even easier for the design community to get involved by empowering them with the tools to define and improve the products they love.”

New 3D viewing experience based on proven, professional data standard

Local Motors has also adopted the JT data format as the 3D standard for viewing all uploaded CAD models throughout its design community, and is providing a no charge, browser-based, 3D viewing experience based on this popular standard. Using either a PC or Mac® computer and the most common web browsers, the Local Motors community will be able to easily view, analyze and comment on other designers’ 3D models, all from within one browser window. All CAD formats will be accepted and downloadable from the Local Motors website in their native format. Most major CAD formats will be converted into the standard IGES format and the Solid Edge format for download. Additionally, Local Motors will convert CAD models in future design projects to the JT format and display them on the Local Motors website. And since JT is one of the global manufacturing industry’s most widely used lightweight 3D data formats for visualization, collaboration and data sharing, the Local Motors community will be sharing design ideas using a proven, professional 3D format.

“The automotive design and engineering enthusiasts participating in the Local Motors community are creating game changing products and dealing with real-world challenges requiring a level of sophistication that goes beyond the limited capabilities available in free or low-cost CAD offerings,” said Jay Rogers, president, CEO and Co-Founder, Local Motors. “That is why we selected Solid Edge as the CAD tool of choice for our recently launched Open Electric Vehicle (EV) project and are recommending Solid Edge Design1 as one of the ground-breaking tools available to our worldwide community. Solid Edge Design1 has the right level of functionality at an affordable price that our community of enthusiasts has been asking for to meet the design challenges of producing a fully functional vehicle. By making it easy for them to collaborate with tools like Solid Edge Design1 and our exciting 3D viewing experience, we are changing the game for the co-creation model and revolutionizing how products are designed.”

“I’m excited about the availability of professional-grade technology like Solid Edge Design1 and JT which will have a huge impact on the Local Motors design community,” said Richard Mansell, an active member of the Local Motors community. “With Solid Edge Design1 we will be able to not only design parts and assemblies with professional accuracy in an affordable manner, but also to share and discuss these designs with others in the community in a way that was impossible before. The fact that we can now view and interact with 3D models right in our standard web browser will greatly enhance and speed up our collaboration with Local Motors and the other vehicle designers in the community.”

Local Motors will offer the monthly subscription version of Solid Edge Design1 starting on January 1, 2012. In the mean time, an invitation only trial will be available to participants in the Local Motors community. Community members can contact Local Motors immediately to request a trial of Solid Edge Design1 from the Local Motors web site. For more information on Solid Edge Design1 and to request the trial, please visit www.local-motors.com/solidedgedesign1.