Skoda’s 3D Printing Center speeds up vehicle design and prototyping

Skoda Auto opens a new 3D Printing Center to produce up to 15,000 prototype parts annually, improving speed, flexibility, and confidentiality in car development.

Skoda Auto has been using 3D printing as a development tool for almost three decades. Back in 1997, the company established its own department where engineers not only experimented with the technology but also provided feedback to printer manufacturers, helping to improve the equipment itself. Today, 3D printing has become an integral part of car design, from small test pieces to large body components.

Recently, Skoda opened a new 3D Printing Centre equipped with sixteen printers. Fourteen of them are industrial-grade machines operating nearly around the clock, while two smaller desktop devices handle quick engineering tasks. The facility produces up to 15,000 parts per year — from minor components for testing to large sections such as bumpers.

The main objective of this setup is to accelerate development cycles and reduce dependence on external suppliers. In-house production ensures confidentiality and allows design changes to be implemented quickly without bureaucratic delays.

The company uses several printing technologies, primarily FDM (Fused Deposition Modelling), where a thermoplastic filament is deposited layer by layer. This method enables the creation of parts up to one meter long, suitable for aerodynamic testing and installation trials. Within the Volkswagen Group, other methods such as PBF (powder bed fusion) and DED (direct energy deposition) are also employed for manufacturing die-cast tools, experimental brackets, and even gearbox housings.

The practical benefits are evident. During recent supply disruptions, Skoda used 3D-printed replacements to keep production running, avoiding delays in the delivery of thousands of vehicles. This experience proved that additive manufacturing can strengthen the company’s resilience and flexibility.

Looking ahead, the technology’s future at Skoda lies not only in prototyping but also in customization. The Volkswagen Group is expanding its metal 3D printing hub in Wolfsburg, aiming for small-batch component production. Skoda contributes its expertise to this shared effort, planning to eventually produce tailor-made interior or exterior parts to meet individual customer preferences.

For Skoda, 3D printing is more than a development shortcut — it is a step toward a more agile, sustainable, and technologically advanced way of building cars.