JBeam files import into Blender through a third-party add-on called the JBeam Importer, which converts the vehicle physics data into 3D geometry you can view and edit in Blender's workspace.
JBeam is the vehicle definition format used by BeamNG.drive, a physics-based driving simulator. The files contain suspension geometry, collision shapes, and structural data stored as plain text. Blender does not read JBeam natively, so you need to install an add-on first, then point it to your JBeam file. The process takes about five minutes once the add-on is in place.
This guide covers installing the importer, locating your JBeam files, and importing them so you can see the vehicle structure in Blender's 3D view. You will need Blender 2.93 or newer and a JBeam file from BeamNG.drive or a community mod.
Key Takeaways
- The JBeam Importer add-on must be installed in Blender before you can open any JBeam files.
- JBeam files are stored in your BeamNG.drive game folder under vehicles, and community mods go in a mods subfolder.
- After installing the add-on, you import JBeam files through Blender's File menu using Import, then select the JBeam Importer option.
- The imported vehicle appears as a collection of objects representing the frame, suspension, wheels, and collision geometry.
Install the JBeam Importer Add-On
Start by downloading the JBeam Importer add-on. The most widely used version is available on GitHub in the "BeamNG-Blender-Tools" repository. Go to the repository, click the green Code button, and select Download ZIP. Save the file to a location you can find easily, like your Downloads folder.
Open Blender and go to Edit menu, then Preferences. In the Preferences window, click the Add-ons tab on the left side. At the top right of the Add-ons panel, click the Install button. Navigate to the ZIP file you downloaded, select it, and click Install Add-on. Blender will extract and register the add-on automatically.
After installation, the add-on appears in your Add-ons list. Search for "JBeam" in the search box to find it quickly. Click the checkbox next to the add-on name to enable it. You will see a checkmark appear, and the add-on is now active in your Blender session.
Locate Your JBeam Files
JBeam files are stored in your BeamNG.drive game directory. On Windows, this is usually C:\Users\[Your Username]\AppData\Local\BeamNG.drive. On Mac, it is in ~/Library/Application Support/BeamNG.drive. On Linux, look in ~/.local/share/BeamNG.drive.
Inside the BeamNG.drive folder, open the vehicles folder. Each vehicle has its own subfolder — for example, the Gavril D-Series is in a folder called d15. Inside each vehicle folder, you will find one or more .jbeam files. These are plain text files, and the main vehicle definition is usually named after the vehicle, like d15.jbeam.
If you have installed community mods, they are stored in a mods folder at the same level as vehicles. Mod vehicles follow the same structure: a folder for the mod, then a vehicles subfolder inside it, then individual vehicle folders with .jbeam files.
Import a JBeam File Into Blender
With the add-on enabled, open Blender and create a new project or open an existing one. Go to the File menu at the top left and hover over Import. A submenu appears showing all available import formats. Look for an option labeled JBeam or BeamNG — the exact name depends on which version of the add-on you installed.
Click the JBeam import option. A file browser window opens. Navigate to your BeamNG.drive folder, then to vehicles, then to the specific vehicle folder you want to import. Select the .jbeam file and click Import JBeam or the equivalent button. Blender processes the file and adds the vehicle geometry to your scene.
The import may take a few seconds if the vehicle is complex. When it finishes, you will see the vehicle structure appear in the 3D viewport as a collection of objects — the frame nodes as vertices or small objects, suspension components, wheels, and collision shapes. The objects are organized in a hierarchy in the Outliner panel on the right side of the screen.
Understand What You Are Seeing
A JBeam vehicle in Blender is not a single mesh. Instead, it is a collection of separate objects that represent different parts of the vehicle structure. The frame is typically shown as nodes (points in 3D space) connected by beams (lines or thin cylinders). Suspension arms, springs, and dampers appear as separate objects. Wheels are imported as objects, and collision shapes appear as boxes or other geometric primitives.
The hierarchy in the Outliner shows how these objects are organized. You can click on any object to select it, and it will highlight in the 3D view. This is useful if you want to edit or hide specific parts. For example, you might hide the collision geometry to see the frame more clearly, or select just the suspension to study how it is set up.
The imported data is static — it represents the vehicle structure at rest. If you want to animate suspension movement or simulate physics, you will need to set up additional Blender tools like armatures or constraints, which is beyond the scope of a basic import.
Troubleshoot Common Import Problems
If the import fails or produces an error, the most common cause is that the add-on is not enabled. Go back to Preferences, Add-ons, search for JBeam, and confirm the checkbox is checked. If it is not, enable it and try the import again.
If Blender crashes or freezes during import, the JBeam file may be corrupted or the add-on may not be compatible with your version of Blender. Check that you are running Blender 2.93 or newer. If you are, try downloading the add-on again from the official repository, as your copy may be outdated or incomplete.
If the vehicle imports but appears as a jumbled mess or is extremely small or large, the add-on may have imported it with incorrect scale settings. Select all objects in the scene (press A), then use the Scale tool (press S) to resize the vehicle to a visible size. You can also try importing a different, simpler vehicle first to confirm the add-on is working correctly.
Export and Use Your Imported Vehicle
Once imported, you can work with the vehicle geometry in Blender like any other 3D model. You can render it, add materials and lighting, or export it to another format. To export, go to File, Export As, and choose your desired format — FBX, OBJ, and GLTF are common choices.
If you want to modify the vehicle and bring it back into BeamNG.drive, you will need to edit the original .jbeam file directly in a text editor, not through Blender. The import is one-way: Blender reads the JBeam data and creates 3D objects, but those objects are not linked back to the original file. Any changes you make in Blender will not affect the vehicle in the game unless you manually update the .jbeam file.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need BeamNG.drive installed to import JBeam files?
No. You only need the JBeam files themselves, which you can obtain from the BeamNG.drive game folder if you own the game, or from community repositories online. The add-on reads the files independently of the game.
Can I edit the vehicle in Blender and export it back to BeamNG.drive?
Not directly. Blender's export formats do not preserve JBeam data. If you want to modify a vehicle for BeamNG.drive, you must edit the original .jbeam text file. You can use Blender to visualize the structure and plan changes, but the actual editing happens in a text editor.
What if the add-on does not appear in my Import menu?
The add-on may not be enabled. Open Preferences, go to Add-ons, search for JBeam, and check the box next to it. If it still does not appear, try restarting Blender. If the add-on is not in your Add-ons list at all, the installation may have failed — download and install it again.
Why does my imported vehicle look wrong or incomplete?
Some JBeam files reference external files or use features the add-on does not fully support. Try importing a different vehicle to see if the problem is specific to that file. You can also check the Blender console for error messages — go to Window, Toggle System Console (Windows) or check the terminal output (Mac/Linux).
Can I import multiple vehicles into the same Blender scene?
Yes. Each import adds a new collection to your scene. You can import as many vehicles as you want, though performance may slow down with very complex models. Use the Outliner to organize and manage multiple vehicle collections.