GM Expands Stratasys 3D Printing Across More Than 20 Plants

From Pilot to Factory Floor

General Motors is expanding its use of Stratasys additive manufacturing systems to more than 20 plants across North and South America. The automaker has been testing industrial FDM printers at a handful of facilities. Now those machines are moving into broader production roles, making tooling, fixtures, and manufacturing aids on demand.

Stratasys CEO Yoav Zeif described the deployment as a model for how additive manufacturing should integrate into large-scale manufacturing. Instead of keeping 3D printing locked in a prototype room, GM is placing it on the same floor as assembly lines. That shift matters because it turns printers into infrastructure rather than experiments.

What the Teams Are Actually Printing

GM's Additive Manufacturing teams use Stratasys hardware to produce large, custom parts that would otherwise require external machine shops. Jigs, gauges, assembly fixtures, and ergonomic aids all fall into that category. When a production line needs a one-off bracket or a custom guide, waiting weeks for a machined part slows the entire process. Printing it overnight keeps the line moving.

The FDM materials matter here too. Carbon-fiber reinforced nylon, ASA, and ABS formulations can survive the oils, temperature swings, and repeated handling found on a factory floor. Those are not the same demands as a desktop printer making a hobbyist's bracket.

Why GM's Rollout Signals a Shift

Automotive manufacturing runs on tight margins and strict schedules. A tool that cuts lead times from weeks to hours without sacrificing durability is a direct cost saver. GM is not the first automaker to adopt industrial 3D printing, but rolling it out across 20-plus facilities signals that the technology has passed the pilot phase. When one of the world's largest automakers standardizes on a system, suppliers and competitors usually take note.

Stratasys plans to showcase a new video about GM's deployment at its IMTS 2026 booth in Chicago this week. The footage was filmed across multiple GM facilities and shows how manufacturing teams are using the hardware to solve real production problems.