A comprehensive survey of the up-to-date methods and technologies for 3-D CAD model retrieval was presented. Firstly, the architecture of 3-D CAD model retrieval system was introduced, and a detailed survey on current 3-D CAD model retrieval was given from text-based retrieval, content-based retrieval and semantic-based retrieval. Then, the existing 3-D CAD model retrieval system and the application of 3-D CAD model retrieval were also introduced. Finally, some challenges and the future directions of 3-D CAD model retrieval were indicated. The proposed CAD retrieval technology provided fully retrieval support for conceptual design, detailed design, polytechnical design, and product design. It also enforced the capability of enterprise product model designing and reuse of manufacturing information.