Surprisingly, 3D printing and electric cars are two industries that are following very similar paths. They both threaten to disrupt major areas of the economy -- manufacturing and automotive, respectively -- and are within the early stages of their adoption cycle.
After all, of the 88.6 million cars expected to sell worldwide in 2015, approximately 430,000 are expected to be of the electric variety, according to Euromonitor International. Additionally, the 3D printing industry is expected to generate nearly $5.3 billion in worldwide revenue in 2015 -- peanuts compared to the over $10 trillion in economic output that stemmed from worldwide manufacturing activity in 2010.
Clearly, these budding industries offer tremendous long-term growth potential for investors to benefit. But which one is the better investment opportunity?
We asked two of our industrials specialists to weigh in.
F Total Return Price data by YCharts .
That doesn't even include General Motors , which of course wiped investors out in bankruptcy during the recession.
At the end of the day, when I consider both the risks inherent investing in a new and still relatively unproven technology like 3D printing, versus the historical track record of investing in the auto industry -- which, outside of Tesla, is likely to be the source of almost all EVs going forward -- I'll take my chances that the 3D printing industry will get its act together, and keep disrupting and improving the manufacturing world.
And that will make for a superior investment over the long term.
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The article Better Investment Opportunity: 3D Printing or Electric Cars? originally appeared on Fool.com.
Jason Hall owns shares of 3D Systems, ExOne, SolarCity, Stratasys, and Tesla Motors. Steve Heller owns shares of 3D Systems, ExOne, SolarCity, and Tesla Motors. The Motley Fool recommends General Motors. The Motley Fool recommends and owns shares of 3D Systems, ExOne, Ford, SolarCity, Stratasys, and Tesla Motors. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days . We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy .
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
