Via Bruce Perens, an excerpt from Technocrat:

“RepRap is an attempt to create a Fused Deposition Modeling engine, in other words a “3-D printer”, that can make solid objects. Its designs are in Open Source. The design is getting to the point that a prototype unit can begin to replicate some of its own components.

However, this has led to the assertion that RepRap can replicate itself. While belied within the project’s own web site, this is so oft-repeated in the press that the project’s developers must be supporting it in their PR and interviews. For the sake of honesty and scientific integrity, I really wish they’d stop.

This might be a more appropriate statement for the press:

RepRap is potentially capable of replicating its skeleton, without any of the electronics that make it work.

…

It’s great that such a device is being worked on in Open Source. But let’s please be honest with our claims.”

According to Bruce Perens in the above article, Open Source Cars are still “decades away”

However, I remember being informed once that the Dutch C,mm,n car could be manufactured as early as 2011.

Any knowledgeable updates and time line predictions would be very welcome. When will we have true open hardware on a less than marginal scale?