Laser welding has the advantages of high energy density, high welding efficiency, small welding deformation and high reliability of welding structure, which has a broad application prospect in rail vehicle manufacturing. Focusing on the requirements of rail vehicle for welding deformation control, welding efficiency improvement, reliability improvement of welding structure, lightweight design and manufacturing, the corresponding laser welding application scenarios were analyzed from the perspective of rail vehicle materials and structures, combined with application research cases, and the key advantages and potential challenges of laser welding in rail vehicle manufacturing were extracted. In view of the limitations of laser welding in engineering application, this paper expounds the methods of effectively carrying out laser welding process verification and realizing engineering application, and puts forward the key technologies that should be paid attention to and studied in the process of laser welding. This research can be used for reference to understand and develop the application of laser welding in rail vehicles.