[MrFlippant]

I assume that manufacturers now use this method. Quickly printing a body the right shape then gives the opportunity to get a good finish on it and use it to produce a production mould.

I'm pretty sure they use 3dp for prototyping only. Once they're happy with the model as far as the CAD work goes, then the injection mold is produced in the normal way, not by using any 3d printed thing as a master. Then it's injection molding from there.

Small production companies, like Area 71, or Joe Blow with his custom chassis/body garage business, might use 3dp as a production method, or even to produce a master for casting, but not any company the size of slot.it or larger.