# Licensing CAD files and engineering data to AI companies

> How automotive, aerospace and robotics teams license native CAD assemblies, PCB designs and test results to AI buyers: payouts, ownership and export rules.

Canonical: https://origindatapartners.com/guides/license-cad-engineering-data-ai
By: Origin Data Partners
Status: Published
Published: 2026-11-01
Updated: 2026-11-01
Sources checked: 2026-11-01

## Quick answer

Engineering companies can license native CAD assemblies they own, with feature history, drawings and test results. Published buyer ranges run $45K to $1.3M for companies with 20 to 2,000 employees, in any country. Automotive, aerospace, robotics and industrial equipment are the priority. Exported meshes, single parts and customer-owned designs do not qualify, and export-controlled technical data must stay out.

## Key points

- Native files with feature trees beat exported meshes or STEP files.
- Several products or product generations are wanted, not a parts catalog.
- Customer IP and ITAR or EAR controlled data stay out.

## What engineering data buyers want

Published buyer requirements name automotive suppliers, aerospace, robotics, industrial equipment, product design consultancies, and EV and drone makers.

| Record | Why buyers want it |
| --- | --- |
| Native multi-part assemblies with feature trees | Show how a design was built, not only its final shape. |
| PCB designs and Gerber files | Pair circuit intent with manufacturable output. |
| Drawings and bills of materials | Link geometry to tolerances and parts. |
| FEA and CFD simulation files | Show how designs were verified. |
| Measured test results | Close the loop between design and performance. |
| Firmware | Connects hardware to its control logic. |


## Ownership and export checks

Rights decide scope more than file quality.

- Designs owned by customers stay out, which often excludes build-to-print work.
- ITAR technical data and EAR-controlled technology need an export review before anything leaves; sharing with foreign-national staff at a buyer can count as an export.
- Purchased part libraries and supplier models are licensed to you, not owned.
- Firmware may include third-party or open-source code under licenses that travel with it.

Source: [BIS: Export Administration Regulations](https://www.bis.gov/)

## What rules a company out

Buyers list single parts or parts catalogs, and designs owned by your customers, as not a fit.


## Can companies outside the US license these records?

Buyers of these records accept companies anywhere. Export control regimes are the main country-specific check for engineering data.

The privacy law that applies to any personal data left in the records:

| Country | Main rule to check | Country guide |
| --- | --- | --- |
| United States | ITAR and EAR | [US guide](https://origindatapartners.com/sell-company-data/united-states) |
| United Kingdom | Export Control Order 2008 | [UK guide](https://origindatapartners.com/sell-company-data/united-kingdom) |
| Germany | EU Dual-Use Regulation; BAFA licensing | [Germany guide](https://origindatapartners.com/sell-company-data/germany) |
| Ireland | EU Dual-Use Regulation | [Ireland guide](https://origindatapartners.com/sell-company-data/ireland) |
| Canada | Controlled Goods Program; Export Control List | [Canada guide](https://origindatapartners.com/sell-company-data/canada) |
| India | SCOMET list | [India guide](https://origindatapartners.com/sell-company-data/india) |


## Next step

Manufacturers with production and quality records should also see [data licensing for manufacturers](https://origindatapartners.com/who-we-help/manufacturers). Start with a company-level description: which systems hold the records, how many years they cover and who owns them. No files are needed. [Request a free review](https://origindatapartners.com/check-fit).

Origin Data Partners is independent and is not affiliated with any AI data buyer. We help owners compare buyers and find the best fit for their records. [See what your data is worth](https://origindatapartners.com/check-fit).


## Questions and answers

### Can an engineering company sell CAD files to AI companies?

Yes, for designs the company owns. Published buyer requirements want full multi-part assemblies in native CAD with feature trees, plus drawings, bills of materials and test results.

### How much do AI companies pay for CAD data?

Published buyer ranges run $45K to $1.3M, depending on assembly count and completeness.

### Which CAD systems qualify?

Buyers name SolidWorks PDM, PTC Creo, Siemens NX, Autodesk Fusion and Onshape, Altium and KiCad for circuit boards, and ANSYS for simulation.

### Can a contract manufacturer license customer drawings?

No. Designs owned by customers are excluded. A contract manufacturer's own fixtures, tooling designs and process records may still qualify.

## Sources

- [BIS: Export Administration Regulations](https://www.bis.gov/)
- [US State Department: ITAR](https://www.pmddtc.state.gov/)

## Related reading

- [/who-we-help/manufacturers](https://origindatapartners.com/who-we-help/manufacturers)
- [Licensing R&D lab notebooks and experiment records to AI](https://origindatapartners.com/guides/license-rd-experiment-records-ai)
- [Can a company sell its source code to AI companies for training?](https://origindatapartners.com/guides/sell-source-code-ai-training)
- [How much do AI companies pay for company data?](https://origindatapartners.com/guides/company-data-value)