General Motors is increasingly using additive manufacturing beyond prototype development. In the case of the all-electric Cadillac Celestiq luxury model, the company is producing over 130 vehicle parts using additive processes. The Celestiq serves as a demonstrator for the integration of metal and polymer printing in low-volume series production – with a particular focus on design freedom and material functionality.
One of the most complex components is the cover in the center of the steering wheel, which is manufactured from metal using Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF). This process allows the integration of LED backlighting through the material, a feature that would be difficult to achieve with conventional manufacturing.
“We wanted the part to be metal, fitting with the high-end look and feel of the vehicle,” says White. “We looked at multiple options to make this part, and additive won out because it can make a delicate, detailed, and compact part.”
“None of the finishes we could find met the high-end needs for this outstanding vehicle,” says White. “Using additive manufacturing allowed us to consolidate several parts into one continuous piece. Not only is it effortlessly beautiful, but the part is also incredibly strong.”
Another example is the adjustable belt guide, which was the first safety-relevant metal component in the GM portfolio to be additively manufactured. It was recognized by the Metal Powders Industry Federation in 2024 for its design.
“When looking at whether to use additive manufacturing, we ask ‘can it meet the functional requirements, and does it make sense economically?’ If the answer is yes to both, we know we should target AM,” says White. “That’s what we did with CELESTIQ – and additive gave us something that we never could have achieved otherwise.”
Most of the components are initially created at GM’s Additive Industrialization Center (AIC) in Warren, Michigan. There, the design, choice of materials and production parameters are tested under realistic conditions before the parts are released for series production. In addition to Celestiq, GM also uses additive processes in motorsport projects and in Cadillac’s V-Series Blackwing model range. The focus here is increasingly on structural and functional applications that go beyond purely decorative elements.
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