How long does it take from concept sketch to the final production model?
For a brand new car, the industry average is about 36 months after the design is chosen. We start about 12 months before design approval and the other 36 months or so are needed to get everything engineered, tooled up, and tested. That makes 48 months in total. If you want an in depth look at how cars are made, I would recommend reading CAR by Mary Walton.
