What is the price of creating a concept car?

The reason everyday cars are more affordable — if you can call something priced in the five-figure range affordable — is the high volume of production. When thousands of identical models are produced on the assembly line, economies of scale take effect. The design and production process costs are spread over the numerous vehicles that fill car dealers' lots.

But what about concept cars? These are entirely new vehicles or prototypes showcasing cutting-edge technology and design. Concept cars are usually built from the ground up, with only a few units ever being produced. In most cases, they never even make it to the showroom. Creating a concept car requires great effort. So, what is the cost to build one?

Answering this question is tricky since there are various types of concept cars. Some are scale models, so tiny they fit in a display case. Others are large enough to appear realistic at car shows, but lack a functional engine. A few can even drive around the block, giving the impression that they work like an actual production model.

The creation of a concept car typically starts with a series of sketches, beginning with rough drafts and advancing to detailed blueprints — often made digitally. Next, the car is often modeled in industrial plasticine, commonly known as modeling clay, which is molded, hardened, painted, and shellacked to resemble a working vehicle (even though many concept cars are non-functional). While scale-model concept cars may cost under $100,000, building a full-sized clay concept car for a major automaker generally exceeds $100,000, possibly reaching $300,000 or more. Much of this cost covers the skilled designers and modelers who dedicate weeks or months to the project. If the full-sized model is developed after several smaller models are made for concept validation, the total expense could be even greater. With advancements in computer numeric control (CNC) technology, a CAD/CAM program can directly drive automated machinery to carve models from clay, metal, or fiberglass, speeding up the process. However, many designers still prefer the traditional hand-sculpting of clay to achieve precise results and to address issues not apparent in the initial computer model.

A non-functional mock-up of a concept car is often sufficient for display at auto shows and for promotional photos. To make a concept car driveable, automakers sometimes use the drivetrain from an existing vehicle and place it into the concept car, cutting costs on developing a custom drivetrain. Before a concept car (or more likely, a vehicle inspired by it) can enter production, a fully functional production intent vehicle needs to be built, which is a costly endeavor. However, a concept car primarily serves to look attractive and offer photo ops, so minimal investment is required for the mechanics and electronics that would make it a functional road vehicle.