Pop by Local Motors pop-up in Crystal City this summer

The car company that encourages customers to co-build their vehicles, has opened what they’re calling a “Mobifactory” just outside Washington, DC for the summer season.

Thanks to an insider tip from a new car-obsessed friend, we checked out the grand opening of the Local Motors #CoCreationNation station in Crystal City (a sub-city within Arlington, Va. for those of you beyond the Beltway).

Local Motors co-founder and CEO, Jay Rogers, spoke at the event, sharing with the crowd how his company is changing the way we approach the vehicle. With 3D printing and online ordering in his sights for 2017, we’d say Rogers is looking to majorly disrupt the automotive retail industry (and that’s not a bad thing).

Local Motors CEO Jay Rogers welcomes a local crowd for the opening of their shop in Arlington VA. #letsrally pic.twitter.com/3WVioV0aH7

As it turns out, the Local Motors pop-up is a prequel to a planned facility with full 3D printing capability in National Harbor, Md. That retail and demonstration site is said to be going into the space that the National Children’s Museum recently vacated. (Yes, that’s 3D printing of a real, working car.) We spoke with the Senior VP of Sales of the Phoenix-based company, Mitch Menaker, who described the company’s goal of launching a new 22,000 sq. ft. facility just on the other side of the Potomac River by this time next year. That location would focus on 3D factory printing as well as a retail store and possible tricycle road course.

It was a hot and steamy morning, but nothing could keep us away from snapping a pic with one of two Rally Fighters featured in the Transformers 4 blockbuster.

3 ways to experience Local Motors in DC this summer:

We encourage you to check out the Local Motors Mobi in Crystal City this sweltering season. There are several events happening over the summer, both on weekdays (in case you need a break from the office) and weekends (in case you need a break from the kids).

Local Motors is using Facebook to share its calendar of events. Follow them there for the latest information about their Crystal City Mobifactory from June 8 through the end of August. The Mobi will be open on weekdays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the weekend. Visit the Local Motors Mobi at 1900 Crystal Drive, Arlington, VA 22202

Updated 6/17/15 at 3:05pm – Made clarification on both the purpose and size of new Local Motors facility in National Harbor.