This work is aimed at identifying inspection applications in the automotive industry for which CT can provide an effective evaluation means to improve the product quality and to reduce its time to market. As major case study the CT analysis of aluminum engine heads is discussed. Due to the large shape complexity of the part and the following resulting process difficulties, CT technique is a unique tool to locate defects, check internal geometry and thus provide a better understanding of actions to be undertaken to obtain the required quality of the part. In this way the time consuming trials and error process, currently in use, is avoided. The economic potential and added value of CT over other traditional inspection techniques is finally addressed.