Automakers Shift to 3D Printing for Factory Parts

Major manufacturers are adopting additive manufacturing to streamline tool production and reduce development timelines.

Updated on Oct. 31, 2026 in Auto Parts

A close-up view of an industrial 3D printer creating a complex metal gear for an automobile. — Major automakers are increasingly adopting 3D printing for factory tools and parts, a move aimed at reducing supplier costs and production lead times. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Do you believe the move toward widespread 3D printing in manufacturing will benefit the average consumer?

Automakers are increasingly using 3D printing to create factory tools and production parts, moving the technology beyond initial prototyping. The shift allows companies to produce parts on demand, significantly reducing production timelines from weeks to just hours or days.

Why it matters

This transition helps automakers lower expensive supplier tooling costs and trim logistics spending by printing necessary components in-house. Digital on-demand manufacturing allows plants to respond quickly to production needs without relying on external lead times.

Ford operates over 200 3D printers, while Rivian has invested more than $5 million in printing machinery with annual material costs reaching $1.7 million. General Motors incorporates 135 3D-printed parts into the Cadillac Celestiq.

The players

Ford

This major American automotive manufacturer maintains an extensive internal program with over 200 3D printers.

Rivian

This electric vehicle manufacturer operates a significant additive manufacturing facility in Plymouth, Michigan.

General Motors

This multinational corporation utilizes advanced 3D-printing applications for high-end vehicle production like the Cadillac Celestiq.

Gregory Foresi

He served as the manager of the Ford 3D-printing lab starting in 2024 through October 2026.

The details

By using digital designs to layer materials into three-dimensional objects, factory employees can request specific parts or tools via a dedicated app. These components are then produced on demand, bypassing traditional supply chain dependencies.

In 2024, Gregory Foresi began overseeing the Ford 3D-printing lab.
Gregory Foresi concluded his management of the Ford lab in October 2026.
Ford expects to have 3D labs deployed at more than 23 plants by the end of 2026.

Roadmap

The adoption of 3D printing signals a broader shift away from traditional, rigid tooling toward flexible, on-demand manufacturing. This technological evolution helps legacy automakers compete with agile startups by drastically shortening the path from digital design to physical part.

Consumers benefit indirectly from faster vehicle development cycles and potentially lower long-term manufacturing costs for replacement parts. As plants become more efficient at producing tools on-site, automakers can maintain more consistent production schedules.

The takeaway

Automakers are increasingly turning to additive manufacturing to solve logistical bottlenecks and reduce waste. By integrating digital design directly onto the factory floor, manufacturers gain unprecedented flexibility in how they build and maintain their vehicle production lines.