Dassault Systèmes Q&A: Circularity & AI for EV Manufacturers

Dassault Systèmes is continuing to advance its position as a global leader in 3D design, engineering and product lifecycle management, empowering industries worldwide to innovate through digital transformation and connected virtual environments.

Through its flagship SolidWorks ecosystem and the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, the organisation enables engineers and designers to develop, simulate and collaborate more efficiently, driving mainstream adoption of advanced 3D technologies across global markets.

As SVP of Mainstream Innovation at Dassault Systèmes, Gian Paolo Bassi plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of design and engineering workflows, leading the CRE Partners channel and championing the expansion of the SolidWorks community.

With more than 20 years of experience in 3D, CAD and PLM application development, he has been instrumental in guiding product strategy and fostering innovation across Dassault Systèmes’ mainstream offerings.

His current focus includes driving AI-enabled design innovation, strengthening digital thread connectivity and advocating for the next generation of engineering tools at major industry events such as 3DEXPERIENCE World 2026.

Gian shares his insights with Sustainability Magazine.

How is sustainability used as a growth driver and competitive edge for UK EV makers?

Sustainability has become a defining theme across most industries.

The automotive sector and EV makers, are increasingly using it as both a growth driver and a source of competitive advantage.

They’re adopting advanced design and manufacturing techniques, such as topology optimisation and 3D printing, to produce lighter, stronger parts while minimising raw material waste.

Furthermore, by using virtual twin simulation, EV manufacturers can reduce the need for physical prototypes, cutting development costs and slashing emissions across the board.

Engineers are also applying sustainability principles to optimise vehicle efficiency and strengthen circular material strategies, from recycled batteries to end-of-life component recovery. 

Sustainability has shifted from a buzzword to a strategic framework that guides innovation, differentiates UK EV makers and holds them accountable to industry-wide emission targets. 

Why are eco-design and circular economy principles becoming central to business models?

With industries facing growing resource constraints, supply chain volatility, increasingly stringent environmental regulations and tightening global pressures, an eco-design and circular economy seem like the logical path forward.

However, designing truly circular products requires a level of precision that traditional manufacturing can not reach alone. 

This is where conversion of virtual twin technology and accelerated computing becomes mission-critical.

By combining Virtual Twin technologies with NVIDIA’s AI infrastructure, businesses can now leverage science-validated industry World Models grounded in physics.

This shared architecture allows manufacturers to optimise material science at a molecular level, ensuring that every product is designed for a second life before a single physical prototype is ever built.

By designing recyclable products from the outset, businesses can reduce their dependence on scarce materials and cut waste-related costs.

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This is supercharged by an industrial AI that is trustworthy by design, serving as a mission-critical system of record to optimise materials science and engineering.

At the same time, virtual testing and low-waste manufacturing methods help eliminate unnecessary prototypes and minimise the impact on the environment.

This is further enhanced through skilled virtual companions on the agentic 3DEXPERIENCE platform, which move the trial-and-error process into a high-fidelity digital environment.

This is therefore more than just a sustainability tactic - it's a future-proof strategy that strengthens resilience and ensures regulatory readiness.

By uniting decades of industrial leadership with accelerated computing, this partnership establishes a foundation for a generative economy where AI understands the physical world, acting as a force multiplier for human ingenuity across the world’s largest industries.

What is SOLIDWORKS?

SOLIDWORKS provides powerful yet simple 2D and 3D product development solutions that have been the industry standard for engineers and designers for more than 30 years.

It has evolved from a desktop CAD tool into a comprehensive ecosystem that transforms how products are designed and manufactured.

Part of Dassault Systèmes’ gen-7 strategy - focused on building 3D UNIV-RSES virtual twin experiences for a sustainable world - SOLIDWORKS integrates modelling, simulation and AI, enabling optimisation across the entire lifecycle - from concept to recycling.

The modern SOLIDWORKS experience is defined by “AI for Industry”, featuring three specialised virtual companions:

• Aura: Orchestrates knowledge, context and project requirements.
• Leo: Provides engineering reasoning for mechanics, motion and manufacturing.
• Marie: Delivers scientific rigour regarding materials and regulations.

By shifting the focus from “time to market” to “time to value”, SOLIDWORKS empowers everyone from startups to global luxury brands.

It remains dedicated to democratising 3D design, providing mobile-ready tools powered by AI, to ensure that innovation is faster, safer and more collaborative for a global community of professionals.

How has SOLIDWORKS helped create the first electric road for charging EVs? 

Swedish EV innovator Elonroad is building a first-of-its-kind electric road in the city of Lund, in Sweden, featuring ground-level conductive rails that charge vehicles while they drive.

Designed to support a future fossil-free transport system, this could, in practice, reduce the size of on-board batteries and lower lifecycle emissions.

To achieve this, Elonroad is using the SOLIDWORKS and 3DEXPERIENCE platforms, which is helping engineers refine complex designs and manage product data.

Elonroad is leveraging tools like PDM for streamlined approvals, which helped to accelerate the entire development process and effectively communicate these ideas across its growing supply chain.

This quite brilliant and seamless integration of modelling and iteration has allowed them to move from technology development to full-scale product development.

Ultimately, this work highlights a crucial step towards a world with cleaner, more efficient transport.