On August 21, at FAW’s 2026 Technology Conference, China’s first automotive‑focused additive manufacturing innovation center was officially launched.
With 43 industrial‑grade machines, 8 mainstream processes, and an annual output of about 19,000 parts, this “super printing factory” doesn’t just talk the talk – it genuinely weaves 3D printing into FAW’s entire value chain, from R&D and mass production to tooling, after‑sales, and customization.
The value of additive manufacturing here can be summed up in a catchy “zero‑zero‑one” mantra: zero design constraints – topological optimization and bionic structures are now wide open; zero waiting for validation – digital models go straight to printing, no need to hold up for molds; and integration into one – multiple parts are consolidated, achieving lightweighting that traditional processes can hardly touch.
Don’t mistake this for lab‑stage gimmickry. On the Hongqi Golden Sunflower and special‑vehicle lines, the team used 3D‑printed interior substrates combined with leather wrapping and fumigation for batch production, saving about ¥30.59 million (approximately $4.25 million) compared to conventional methods. Core components like single‑cylinder cylinder heads and catalytic converter end cones, produced via SLM, match the mechanical properties of castings pound for pound. And the high‑precision replication of classics such as the Dongfeng Xiaojinlong and Hongqi vintage cars has won praise from old‑school car enthusiasts, while offering a fresh technical path for preserving automotive heritage.
What’s even more striking is its platform‑level support – supplying thousands of tooling fixtures and validation samples every year to subsidiaries like FAW Jiefang, FAW Bestune, and the Hongqi Manufacturing Center. This means 3D printing is no longer just a “special‑forces” unit; it has become the “water, electricity, and gas” infrastructure powering R&D and production across all FAW brands. From prototyping to full‑scale production, additive manufacturing is rewriting the old playbook of carmaking – and tearing up the old script for good.
