What’s New in the Latest Version of CATIA?

The CATIA R2026x release delivers enhancements in modular design, multi-physics simulation, VR immersion, and generative automation – all delivered through the 3DEXPERIENCE platform. As with every major release CATIA, there’s a lot to get through, but R2026x represents the most unified expression of Dassault Systèmes’ to date. So, let’s see how CATIA is closing the gap between design intent, simulation fidelity, and enterprise collaboration while lowering onboarding barriers and dramatically increasing simulation and automation capability across domains – from composites and structure to system behavior and sustainability.

• Users can find information about the latest features and improvements in the Dassault Systèmes Community Wiki.
• Registered users can access it by clicking on the question mark icon in the top right corner and then navigating to User Communities > 3DEXPERIENCE platform.
• If you don’t already have a Dassault Systèmes account, you can register for free here.

CATIA R2026x major release highlights

The initial CATIA R2026x major release delivers enhanced collaboration, automation, and user experience, with key features such as modular design management, integrated motion simulation, and advanced system interoperability that aim to streamline workflows and improve productivity.

Modular design and command intelligence (Mechanical and Shape Engineer, Mechanical Engineer, Stiffened Structure Engineer): R2026x’s modular design infrastructure is a defining architectural shift. Engineers can now manage geometry, annotations, and specifications independently across lifecycles – transforming variant management and change traceability. Combined with Command Intelligence suggesting context-aware operations, this enhancement makes product definition faster, smarter, and more resilient.

Motion Design App for kinematic and rigid-body dynamics: Motion Design integrates analytical behavior directly into the design phase, bridging CAD and simulation. By enabling mechanical and mechatronic engineers to define, simulate, and validate motion without external solvers, this reduces dependency loops and accelerates design-to-validation cycles – especially in automotive, robotics, and consumer product assemblies.

FMI 3.0 support across systems roles (Dynamic, Mechatronic, Systems Simulation Engineers): Native import/export of FMI 3.0 FMUs massively enhances interoperability and traceability in system-level modeling. Engineers can now exchange system behaviors seamlessly across tools and domains, while the improved documentation of mechanism preferences brings transparency to collaborative MBSE (model-based systems engineering) workflows.

Eco-design developments including new role (Sustainable Supply Systems Library): R2026x introduces true sustainability engineering at the system level. From the new Sustainable Supply Systems Library simulating years of operational behavior in seconds to Eco‑Design’s ISO 14067 Product Carbon Footprint reports, customers can now quantify both environmental and economic performance during early design phases.

Reverse engineering enhancements (Reverse Engineer & Virtual and Real Reconstruction Designer): For customers leveraging scan-based modeling, the enhanced symmetry plane assistant, fictive edge detection, and unified NURBS/subdivision mesh optimization offer a major productivity leap. The new UI, aligned with CATIA standards, modernizes digitized shape preparation and accelerates concept-to-surface workflows for aerospace, energy, and industrial equipment domains.

Generative AI and Virtual Companions: Connect generative engineering with the virtual twin, giving engineers instant access to corporate knowledge, rapidly exploring optimized design options, and embedding quality and compliance checks so products are performant, sustainable, and market-ready by design.

Read the official Dassault Systemes eBook “CATIA 2026x: The Future of Engineering is Generative”.

CATIA R2026x updates to roles and apps

3D PortfolioBoard Presenter

• R2026x GA: New home page delivers instant access to customizable whiteboard and mood board templates, built-in layouts, and (beta) AI-powered image creation from text, sketches, and images to accelerate creative brainstorming and visual communication.

3D Tolerancing and Annotation Designer

• R2026x GA: Define and manage product annotations independently of geometry maturity, create compliant engineering characteristics for manufacturing per ISO 219‑1:2018, and (beta) automatically generate mechanical interfaces from assemblies to accelerate generative functional tolerancing.

Airframe Composites Designer

• R2026x GA: Accelerate composite design with automated top surface generation from virtual stacking, grid cell colorization, enhanced dart and splicing workflows, auto-smoothing commands, and automatic producibility analysis ensuring accurate fiber alignment and manufacturable ply geometry.

Airframe Composites Manufacturing Engineer

• R2026x GA: Simplify composite manufacturing with enhanced dart creation for complex notches, direct splicing curve generation in 3D Multi Splice, and automatic producibility analysis ensuring precise fiber alignment through double guide curves.

Airframe Fastener Engineer

• R2026x GA: Simplify fastener definition with reusable bead fastener templates, unified creation and modification workflows, and automatic nut plate and secondary fastener stack generation in a single operation.

Appearance and Rendering Designer

• R2026x GA: Enhance visualization and rendering workflows with precise UV unwrapping, faster Lightweight openings, consistent material application, improved 3D markers and animations, and major performance upgrades to Stellar Interactive rendering, materials, and lighting.

Boat Interior Designer

• R2026x GA: Boost detailed design and creative modeling productivity with precise gap and bevel control, array pattern instancing, morphing mesh exploration, new mesh sculpting tools, and Motion Design for dynamic assembly behavior analysis.

Body Fastener Designer

• R2026x GA: Enable consistent definition and reuse of bead fasteners with unified templates, plus automated chassis and body validation for bundle and stacking against evolution and variant configurations.

Building Design Engineer

• R2026x GA: Enhance architectural workflows with easy definition of non-load-bearing walls, expanded door and window types, accurate slab and ceiling surface generation, smart wall connection automation with EKL, and quick update of openings for efficient and precise building design engineering.

Building Designer

• R2026x GA: Facilitate architectural design with easy definition of non-load-bearing walls, expanded door and window types, precise generation of slab and ceiling surfaces, automated wall connections and openings via EKL, and efficient updates of openings, complemented by property sets supporting electric power systems.

Cabin Appearance Designer for Aerospace and Defense

• R2026x GA: Optimize 3D rendering workflows with precise UV unwrapping, faster Lightweight data access, consistent material application including closed surfaces, enhanced animation and 3D marking for design comments, and significant performance boosts in Stellar Interactive rendering with improved handling of metallic flakes and physical lights.

Civil Designer

• R2026x GA: Design complex highway interchanges with precise ramp alignment and multiple ramp types, enhance vertical alignment with clearer band tables, define non-load-bearing partition walls, generate accurate surfaces for slabs and floors, automate wall connections and openings via EKL, and quickly update openings with one command for efficient civil design workflows.

Civil Engineer

• R2026x GA: Design complex highway interchanges with multiple ramp types and precise alignment, enhance vertical alignment visualization with clearer band tables, define non-load-bearing partition walls, generate accurate slab and floor surfaces reflecting real elevation, automate wall connections and openings with EKL scripting, and quickly update openings with one command for efficient and precise civil engineering workflows.

Class-A Expert

• R2026x GA: Improve sculpting productivity with faster access and new UI accelerators, easy access to sculpting tools from the action bar and LMB menu, prevention of conflicting matching or symmetry conditions with warning messages, renaming and enhancement of OmniShape features for consistent support constraint compliance, multi-cell curve extrapolation, visual identification of OmniPlanes, and default CATIA navigation in the Icem Design Experience application for smoother modeling workflows.

Collaborative Designer for Dymola

• R2026x GA: Persist and reuse Executable Models and Executable Simulation Architectures within 3DEXPERIENCE, with seamless integration to easily open and identify PowerBy models in Dymola; enhanced project traceability is provided by relation graphs on the platform showing used models, facilitating efficient multi-domain system modeling and simulation workflows.

Collaborative Designer for STIMULUS

• R2026x GA: Persist and reuse executable simulation models and architectures in 3DEXPERIENCE with Power’By integration for FMU management, enabling drag-and-drop system model handling from platform search; easily visualize system model dependencies and manage project links with ENOVIA relations widgets, enhancing collaboration and governance for large-scale simulation projects.

Color and Trim Designer for Transportation and Mobility

• R2026x GA: Enhance 3D visualization and rendering workflows with precise UV unwrapping, faster Lightweight data access, consistent material application including closed surfaces, and the new Appearance Definition app for exploring Color & Trim variants; improve dynamic review scenarios with advanced animation and 3D comment markers; gain workflow flexibility through imported, measured, and procedural materials; and benefit from performance upgrades in Stellar Interactive rendering, metallic flakes, and physical lights switching, alongside UI enhancements for measured AxF materials and decals in web-based applications.

Composite Structures Engineer for Marine and Offshore

• R2026x GA: Streamline composite part design and manufacturing with automated generation of top surfaces from composite ply stack-ups, visual grid cell colorization for enhanced design clarity, advanced dart creation for complex notches, direct splicing curve creation in 3D Multi Splice, automated smoothing of top surfaces via dedicated fillet commands, and automatic producibility analysis with fiber-aligned double guide curves for cut-pieces.

Composites Braiding and Forming Engineer

• R2026x GA: Enable production of composite parts via braiding on mandrels with concave regions through virtual convex insert creation, assess key performance indicators integrating Numerical Analysis with braiding producibility, and support extended external FEA solver formats for braiding simulation data export to enhance composite manufacturing simulation accuracy and workflow integration.

Composites Designer for Industrial Equipment

• R2026x GA: Automate composite ply surface generation with top surfaces from cured or uncured virtual stacking, enrich grid design through cell colorization, simplify manufacturing of complex notches and cut-pieces with advanced dart and 3D Multi Splice commands, automate top surface smoothing via dedicated fillet tools, and ensure precise fiber alignment and producibility in cut-pieces with double guide curves, streamlining composite manufacturing design and validation.

Composites Designer for Marine and Offshore

• R2026x GA: Efficiently generate top surfaces for composite ply layers to support geometry creation for interface parts; create these surfaces from virtual stacking with cured or uncured ply thickness; enhance grid design through cell colorization; manage complex manufacturing notches with advanced dart commands; streamline cut-piece creation using 3D Multi Splice splicing curves; automate top surface smoothing using dedicated auto fillet commands; and ensure fiber-aligned producibility through double guide curve constraints for cut-pieces, improving precision and manufacturability in composite part design and production.

Composites Designer for Transportation and Mobility

• R2026x GA: Generate top surfaces for composite ply layers to streamline interface geometry creation; produce these surfaces from virtual stacking considering cured or uncured ply thickness; enrich grid design via cell colorization; define complex manufacturing notches with multi-point or curve input via the dart command; simplify cut-piece creation with direct splicing curve input from 3D Multi Splice; automate smoothing of top surfaces with a dedicated auto fillet tool; and ensure fiber-aligned producibility for cut-pieces through automatic double guide curve constraints, enhancing composite manufacturing design efficiency and accuracy.

Composites Engineer for Transportation and Mobility

• R2026x GA: Generate composite ply top surfaces for streamlined interface geometry creation, including from virtual stacking with cured or uncured ply thickness; enhance grid design with colorized cells; simplify complex manufacturing notch definition via multi-point or curve input using the dart command; streamline cut-piece creation with on-the-fly splicing curves from 3D Multi Splice; automate top surface smoothing with dedicated fillet tools; and ensure fiber-aligned producibility for cut-pieces using automatic double guide curve constraints, improving composite manufacturing precision and workflow efficiency.

Composites Manufacturing Engineer for Industrial Equipment

• R2026x GA: Manage complex manufacturing notches efficiently with the enhanced dart command supporting multiple points or explicit curve inputs; streamline cut-piece creation using on-the-fly splicing curve generation from the 3D Multi Splice command; and ensure precise fiber alignment in cut-pieces through automatic producibility creation with double guide curve constraints, improving composite manufacturing accuracy and workflow efficiency.

Composites Manufacturing Engineer for Marine and Offshore

• R2026x GA: Manage complex manufacturing notches efficiently with the enhanced dart command supporting multiple points or explicit curve inputs; streamline cut-piece creation using on-the-fly splicing curve generation from the 3D Multi Splice command; and ensure precise fiber alignment in cut-pieces through automatic producibility creation with double guide curve constraints, improving composite manufacturing accuracy and workflow efficiency.

Composites Manufacturing Engineer for Transportation and Mobility

• R2026x GA: Manage complex manufacturing notches efficiently with the enhanced dart command supporting multiple points or explicit curve inputs; streamline cut-piece creation using on-the-fly splicing curve generation from the 3D Multi Splice command; and ensure precise fiber alignment in cut-pieces through automatic producibility creation with double guide curve constraints, improving composite manufacturing accuracy and workflow efficiency.

Concept Structure Engineer

• R2026x GA: Accelerate design workflows and new user onboarding with Command Intelligence, streamline and reuse modular concepts effortlessly, and manage Modules more efficiently with automatic upgrades, enhanced interface panels, intuitive structure reorganization, and simplified cleanup and grouping tools.

Consumer Products Composites Designer

• R2026x GA: Accelerate composite design and manufacturing by generating and smoothing top surfaces automatically, enriching grid visualization with color-coded data, creating darts and splicing curves directly in 3D, and ensuring precise fiber alignment and producibility analysis through automated double guide curve constraints.

Consumer Products Composites Manufacturing Engineer

• R2026x GA: Simplify composite manufacturing by enabling on-the-fly dart creation for complex notches, generating splicing curves directly within the 3D Multi Splice command, and automatically aligning fibers and producing producibility analyses using double guide curve constraints.

Creative Designer

• R2026x GA: Boost creative and detailed design precision with Gap Modeling, bevel crossing control, and Morphing Mesh for fast shape exploration, while new Mesh Tools and Array Pattern visual modifiers enhance sculpting freedom and productivity in the Creative Design Experience.

Design Automation Engineer

• R2026x GA: Strengthen template design agility with a modular architecture that supports early design exploration, embedded parameters and rules, and comprehensive Design Space Checks to ensure module robustness across all dimensions.

Dynamic Systems Engineer

• R2026x GA: Accelerate system modeling and simulation with seamless FMI 3.0 integration, enabling quick import and export of standard FMUs, enhanced interoperability, and improved documentation of mechanism preference settings.

Eco-Design Engineer

• R2026x GA: Demonstrate sustainability compliance with ISO 14067 by generating Product Carbon Footprint reports featuring new CO2 emission metrics, and enhance product transparency with enriched structural views displaying detailed product information.

Fluid 3D Systems Engineer

• R2026x GA: Enhance routing and design efficiency with realistic hose shaping that accounts for obstructions, improved previews during network edits, automatic repair of unit filters, and user experience upgrades such as directional icons in engineering tables, easier 3D-to-2D reframing, and default part selection mode activation.

Frame Structure Engineer

• R2026x GA: Enhance structural design productivity and accuracy by simplifying twisted stiffener creation, enabling parametric panel and bracket creation on twisted stiffeners, and allowing seamless generation of support surfaces and components in a single step.

Human Experience Designer

• R2026x GA: Enable highly realistic Virtual Reality product experience decisions with accurate finger tracking and hand manipulation using the Grab & Move functionality during human incarnation, supporting Meta© Quest devices via OpenXR and requiring an additional Virtual Reality Role for activation.

Human Experience Specialist

• R2026x GA: Enhance Virtual Reality product experience decisions with accurate hand and finger tracking using Grab & Move functionality during human incarnation, supporting Meta© Quest devices through OpenXR, enabled via a Hand Tracking Option in the Human VR Incarnation and Capture panel, requiring an additional Virtual Reality Role for activation.

Industrial Designer

• R2026x GA: Improve creative industrial design via Gap Modeling for precise bevel crossing control, rapid object instance creation with a visual Array Pattern modifier, and versatile shape variant exploration using Morphing Mesh in Imagine and Shape, complemented by new Mesh Tools enhancing sculpting freedom and ease in the Creative Design Experience.

Initial 3D Arrangement Specialist

• R2026x GA: Improve user productivity in shipbuilding and structural design with structure object find and repeat capabilities, rapid concept design via Visual Scripting and mesh generation, and enhanced efficiency through simplified twisted stiffener and parametric panel and bracket creation with seamless support surface and component generation in one step.

Interior and Exterior Trim Engineer

• R2026x GA: Enable designers to accurately predict assembly mechanical behavior under motion with the new App Motion Design, incorporating kinematics and rigid body dynamics for enhanced simulation and decision-making in product design.

Lattice Designer

• R2026x GA: Fine-tune lattice structure performance and manufacturability with adjustable parameters on bars and lattice networks, combined frequency and thickness variability for TPMS lattices, Voronoi-based random lattice bar distribution, boundary control for TPMS shapes, and external shape refinement via sag mode editing, while enhancing productivity by enabling direct access to lattice features from the 3D view and specification tree.

Layered Product Designer

• R2026x GA: Enhance cylindrical battery cell design with new rolling shape algorithms that roll layers under tension, eliminating artificial rounded approximations, while exposing new parameters such as number of turns and actual rolled layer length, integrated into geometry abstraction for improved design and meshing capabilities.

Mechanical and Shape Engineer

• R2026x GA: Unlock new design agility and innovation with Modular Design, enabling independent lifecycle management of geometry and annotations, concurrent generation of engineering characteristic specifications for manufacturing, and (beta) automatic generation of Mechanical interfaces from assemblies to assist with part positioning and Engineering Connections, all supported by enhanced Command Intelligence and motion simulation features for improved design workflows.

Mechanical Engineer

• R2026x GA: Enable modular design to boost agility and innovation with independent lifecycle management of geometry and annotations, allow concurrent generation of 3D and 2D engineering characteristics specifications for manufacturing, and leverage beta functionality to automatically generate Mechanical interfaces from assemblies for part positioning; all enhanced by Command Intelligence for adaptive workflows and a new Motion Design App to predict assembly behavior incorporating kinematics and rigid body dynamics.

Mechatronic Systems Engineer

• R2026x GA: Enhance simulation and integration capabilities with full support for FMI 3.0 standard FMUs, enabling rapid modeling and simulation of complex products and systems through easy import and export of FMUs, complemented by detailed documentation on mechanism-related preferences; simultaneously, advance assembly design by predicting mechanical behavior under motion using the new App Motion Design, which accounts for kinematics and rigid body dynamics.

Motion Designer

• R2026x GA: Improve model setup efficiency with advanced system excitation definition by leveraging knowledgeware design tables and user-defined formulas, enabling precise and customizable excitation inputs to enhance simulation accuracy and streamline the simulation setup process.

Multidiscipline Schematic Designer

• R2026x GA: Enhance schematic accessibility by providing visual information on pin sockets and partial equipment to make circuit interpretation more intuitive and efficient, while optimizing complex cable management for better organization and reduced routing complexity.

Outfitting 3D Systems Designer

• R2026x GA: Improve flexible hose routing experience by accounting for obstructions along route geometry and enhancing realistic previews during network modifications, while also repairing broken unit filters linked to remote catalogs from data source migrations or library upgrades. User experience is enhanced with directional icons in engineering tables, easy 3D-to-2D object reframing from diagram views, and default activation of ‘Part selection’ mode.

Piping and HVAC 3D System Engineer

• R2026x GA: Improve routing experience for flexible hoses by considering obstructions along route geometry and providing realistic previews during network modifications. Enhance system robustness by repairing broken unit filters linked to remote catalogs, whether migrated or upgraded. User experience is boosted by intuitive visualization of engineering-tables’ input/output columns with directional icons, effortless reframing of 3D objects linked to 2D diagrams from diagram-view, and activation of ‘Part selection’ mode by default, making routing and design workflows smoother and more productive.

Plant Layout Engineer

• R2026x GA: Enhance efficiency and accuracy in structural design by simplifying twisted stiffener creation and enabling parametric panel and bracket creation on twisted stiffeners. This reduces manual effort and allows seamless generation of support surfaces and components in a single step, significantly improving productivity.

Powertrain and Chassis Engineer

• R2026x GA: Accelerate assembly validation and motion design by enabling designers to define, simulate, and review kinematic and rigid-body dynamics directly within their assemblies using the new Motion Design app, reducing dependency on analysts and shortening the design-to-validation cycle.

Product Creative Designer

• R2026x GA: Boost creative design precision and productivity with advanced subdivision surface capabilities, including Gap Modeling, Bevel crossing management, Array Patterning, and Morphing Mesh tools, empowering designers to sculpt complex, high-quality shapes with greater control and freedom in the Creative Design Experience.

Product Design Presenter

• R2026x GA: Accelerate visualization and review workflows with faster lightweight data access, enhanced material consistency, and improved rendering performance in Stellar Interactive mode, while enabling direct 3D annotations, dynamic animation authoring, and guided learning for an optimized Product Perception and Live Rendering experience.

Product Designer

• R2026x GA: Deliver higher precision and creative freedom in conceptual shape design with advanced subdivision surface capabilities, including Gap Modeling, Bevel crossing control, Array Patterning, Morphing Mesh, and new Mesh Tools, empowering designers to craft complex, high-quality forms with improved efficiency.

Product Mechanical Designer for Home and Lifestyle

• R2026x GA: Streamline design-to-manufacturing workflows by enabling independent lifecycle management of annotations, concurrent engineering specification creation, and unified 3D/2D documentation, while leveraging the new Motion Design app to simulate and validate kinematic and rigid-body behaviors directly within the design environment.

Report Producer

• R2026x GA: Improve scalability and efficiency for large-scale projects with enhanced performance, advanced model filtering by version or criteria, and smarter reporting through automatic warnings for obsolete templates and formats, ensuring faster, more accurate configuration-based report generation.

Report Template Administrator

• R2026x GA: Enhance performance and scalability for complex projects with advanced filtering for configuration-specific reporting, evolution-based model criteria, and a new “Where Used” capability in the Information panel to efficiently track and manage template dependencies.

Reverse Engineer

• R2026x GA: Speed up scan repositioning and edge reconstruction with enhanced Digitized Shape Preparation tools, including an intelligent Symmetry Plane Assistant and expanded Fictive Edge support for meshes, subdivision, and NURBS surfaces, all within a refreshed, modern user interface aligned with CATIA standards.

Steel and Equipment Layout Designer

• R2026x GA: Strengthen steel connection and outfitting design efficiency with enhanced lifecycle management, streamlined panel creation, and intuitive commands that simplify complex steel design workflows.

Steel Structures Designer

• R2026x GA: Accelerate shipbuilding design with enhanced productivity through structure object search and reuse, concept modeling via Visual Scripting and Mesh generation, and streamlined creation of twisted stiffeners, panels, and brackets for faster, more accurate structural design.

Stiffened Structure Engineer

• R2026x GA: Simplify and accelerate complex structure creation with modular design and dedicated revision tools, while improving usability through Command Intelligence that adapts commands dynamically to streamline workflows and speed up user onboarding.

Structure Designer for Marine and Offshore

• R2026x GA: Boost shipbuilding productivity and design continuity with intelligent structure object reuse, Visual Scripting-driven concept modeling, and automated creation of twisted stiffeners, panels, and brackets for faster, more accurate structural design execution.

Style and Class-A Modeler

• R2026x GA: Boost modeling efficiency and user productivity with faster access to sculpting tools, enhanced conflict prevention in matching and symmetry conditions, renamed and refined OmniShape behavior for consistent continuity, and improved navigation and visualization across the Icem Design Experience.

Systems Schematic Engineer

• R2026x GA: Improve electrical design clarity and efficiency with visual insights into pin sockets and partial equipment for easier schematic interpretation, and enhanced complex cable management to simplify routing and organization.

Systems Simulation Designer

• R2026x GA: Extend simulation flexibility and collaboration with enhanced FMI 3.0 support, automated task connectivity, streamlined unit management, and resource import, enabling domain experts to build, share, and review multi-physics simulation models more efficiently across teams.

Systems Software Production Engineer

• R2026x GA: Strengthen model-based development with reverse engineering from C to UML, expanded support for Kotlin and multiple C++ versions, and enhanced code generation flexibility, delivering a complete round‑trip engineering workflow from model to code.

Transportation Designer

• R2026x GA: Advance automotive creative design with enhanced subdivision surface modeling through Gap Modeling, Bevel crossing control, Morphing Mesh, and new Mesh Tools, while improved ICEM Design Experience accelerates sculpting with faster access, intelligent constraints, and refined OmniShape behavior for high-quality conceptual surfaces.

Vehicle Creative Designer

• R2026x GA: Elevate vehicle creative design with advanced subdivision surface capabilities, including Gap Modeling, Bevel crossing control, Array Patterning, Morphing Mesh, and new Mesh Tools, empowering designers to craft high-quality, complex shapes with greater speed and creative flexibility.

Virtual and Real Reconstruction Designer

• R2026x GA: Improve reverse engineering precision and speed with intelligent symmetry plane detection and expanded Fictive Edge capabilities for meshes, subdivision, and NURBS surfaces, all supported by a modernized CATIA-aligned Engineering IP Control interface.

Visual Experience Designer

• R2026x GA: Accelerate visualization workflows with faster lightweight data access, consistent material application, enhanced rendering performance in Stellar Interactive mode, and improved control of measured and procedural materials for higher visual quality across desktop and web environments.

Visual Script Designer

• R2026x GA: Advance high-end concept and styling workflows with curvature-continuous styling fillets and a redesigned Visual Scripting editor featuring modular graph navigation, improved panel management, and intuitive node interactions, alongside a beta AI-powered Generative Mesh from Image operator to accelerate 3D exploration.

Summary

The CATIA R2026x release brings a practical set of significant updates focused on enhancing collaboration, automation, and user experience across design, engineering, and manufacturing roles. It stands out by supporting modular design with independent lifecycle management, greatly improving the agility of product development and variant handling. The introduction of the Motion Design app lets engineers simulate kinematics and rigid-body dynamics directly within assemblies, speeding up design validation without needing external tools. This release also embraces systems engineering interoperability through full support of FMI 3.0 standard FMUs, enabling seamless multi-domain modeling and simulation collaboration.

Sustainability gains prominence with the Sustainable Supply Systems Library and eco-design features that allow rapid simulation of system-level environmental and financial KPIs and carbon footprint reporting. For those using scan-based reverse engineering, productivity improves with smarter symmetry detection and fictive edge regeneration for cleaner geometry reconstruction. Visualization and rendering workflows also benefit from performance boosts, smarter UV unwrapping, and AI-assisted creative tools. Overall, CATIA R2026x strengthens the 3DEXPERIENCE platform as an integrated environment that promotes smarter, faster, and more collaborative product development.