diff --git a/plugins/3d/vrml/v2/vrml2_base.cpp b/plugins/3d/vrml/v2/vrml2_base.cpp
index d892fc4c0d..f0a81ed73a 100644
--- a/plugins/3d/vrml/v2/vrml2_base.cpp
+++ b/plugins/3d/vrml/v2/vrml2_base.cpp
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@
 #include "plugins/3dapi/ifsg_all.h"
 
 
-SCENEGRAPH* LoadVRML( const wxString& aFileName, bool useInline );
+SCENEGRAPH* LoadVRML( const wxString& aFileName, bool useInline, bool applyUnitConversion );
 
 
 WRL2BASE::WRL2BASE() : WRL2NODE()
@@ -148,7 +148,11 @@ SGNODE* WRL2BASE::GetInlineData( const std::string& aName )
         return nullptr;
     }
 
-    SCENEGRAPH* sp = LoadVRML( fn.GetFullPath(), false );
+    // Load the inline model with the same unit conversion setting as the parent.
+    // This ensures that submodels referenced via Inline{} nodes in PCBnew-exported VRML
+    // files (which have top-level scale and disabled unit conversion) are also loaded
+    // without unit conversion.
+    SCENEGRAPH* sp = LoadVRML( fn.GetFullPath(), false, m_applyUnitConversion );
 
     if( nullptr == sp )
     {
diff --git a/plugins/3d/vrml/vrml.cpp b/plugins/3d/vrml/vrml.cpp
index 97723f5548..3ef2f56c5a 100644
--- a/plugins/3d/vrml/vrml.cpp
+++ b/plugins/3d/vrml/vrml.cpp
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ private:
 };
 
 
-SCENEGRAPH* LoadVRML( const wxString& aFileName, bool useInline )
+SCENEGRAPH* LoadVRML( const wxString& aFileName, bool useInline, bool applyUnitConversion )
 {
     FILE_LINE_READER* modelFile = nullptr;
     SCENEGRAPH* scene = nullptr;
@@ -278,6 +278,11 @@ SCENEGRAPH* LoadVRML( const wxString& aFileName, bool useInline )
         // to prevent infinite recursion when loading referenced VRML files)
         bp->SetEnableInline( useInline );
 
+        // Set unit conversion mode. For top-level files, this defaults to true (legacy mode)
+        // and will be disabled if a top-level scale transform is detected. For inline submodels,
+        // this inherits the parent's setting.
+        bp->SetApplyUnitConversion( applyUnitConversion );
+
         if( !bp->Read( proc ) )
         {
             wxLogTrace( traceVrmlPlugin, wxT( " * [INFO] load failed" ) );
@@ -347,7 +352,7 @@ SCENEGRAPH* Load( char const* aFileName )
     if( ext == wxT( "x3d" ) || ext == wxT( "X3D" ) )
         scene = LoadX3D( fname );
     else
-        scene = LoadVRML( fname, true );
+        scene = LoadVRML( fname, true, true );
 
     return scene;
 }