Even as digital tools race ahead, automakers still lean on an old craft: clay modeling. First introduced in the 1930s by General Motors engineer Harley Earl, it remains a pillar of car design—even for vehicles planned for 2026. The persistence of the technique is telling: when shape and stance define a car’s character, designers still trust their eyes and hands.

Modern 3D software hasn’t managed to replace clay entirely. A physical model lets teams judge proportions, the play of light and shadow, and reshape surfaces manually. A clay mock-up can be rotated, lit from different angles, and even covered with material that imitates body panels. Screens convey data, but in the studio the forms reveal themselves—tactile feedback often settles debates that software leaves open.

The workflow is demanding and precise. It begins with a metal frame, builds up with a special pliable compound, and then moves through milling and careful hand-finishing to reach its final form. Experts note that this approach helps turn concepts into real models and remains an irreplaceable tool for evaluating design in true three dimensions.