What is Automotive Design? Courses, Fees, Top Institutes, Careers & Salary 2025

Automotive design course includes designing the vehicle's external characteristics, such as the headlights, taillights, and other exterior details, as well as the body's size, form and style.  There are many benefits to studying or working in automobile design that go beyond the technical aspects of building cars.Schools of design, art or engineering frequently offer courses in automotive design education. Work experience or internships in the automotive sector can offer insightful knowledge and useful skills.

Automotive design may be of interest to those who hold a degree in mechanical engineering or automotive engineering. To design vehicles that are both practical and effective, a strong grasp of engineering fundamentals is essential. Automotive design can be an exciting and fulfilling career for graphic designers who have a love for cars and a fascination with three-dimensional design. They frequently assist with elements like interior graphics, branding and logos. Individuals who possess artistic abilities in drawing and illustration, especially when it comes to product design, may consider pursuing a career in automotive design. Read Automobile Engineering.

There are several reasons why many candidates prefer to pursue Automotive Design courses. Some of these are mentioned below:

• The Automotive Design Course is a unique blend of technicality and creative design. 
• There are ample career prospects in the field with the growing Automotive Industry. India is home to more than 14,000
• Automotive companies. India's Automotive Market Size is around USD 108.10 Billion.
• The average salary of an Automotive Designer in the US ranges between $64,079 and $80,199. The market size of the global
• Automotive industry is around USD 3,564.67 Billion.

No, there is usally no maximum or minimum age limit to pursue Automotive Design PG Courses. You can pursue these ourses at any age. However, these courses would other requirements. Your educational qualification and would be considered.

Here are some important documents you must carry during an Automotive Design admission process (irrespective of the course type):

• Class 10 and 12 marksheets
• A bachelor's or master's degree (if applicable)
• A valid ID proof (Adhaar, Passport, PAN Card, etc.)
• Passport-sized photographs
• Migration Certificate

CEED is an entrance exam for postgraduate Design courses such as M.Des and UCEED entrance exam is for undergraduate Design courses such as B. Des. UCEED is open to all nationals (Indian/Foreign). Many reputed colleges such as Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB), Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IITG), Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IITH) and Indian Institute of Information Technology Design and Manufacturing Jabalpur (IIITDMJ) aceept UCEED scores. You should have qualified for CEED exam if you wish to seek admission to Master of Design M.Des programmes at IISc Bangalore, IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Guwahati, IIT Hyderabad, IIITDM Jabalpur, and IIT Kanpur, and to Ph.D. programmes in Design at IISc Bangalore, IIT Bombay, IIT Guwahati, IIT Hyderabad, and IIT Kanpur.

Here are some popular books for Automotive Design students, they can read apart from their regular syllabus:

• An Introduction to Modern Vehicle Design by Julian Happian Smith.
• Ergonomics in the Automotive Design Process by Vivek D. Bhise.
• Product Design and Testing for DOE for Automotive Engineering Volume II by Young J. Chiang.
• HOW TO Design CARS LIKE A PRO by Tony Lewin and Ryan Borroff.
• VEHICLE Design by Jordan Meadows.
• Role Of The Chemist In Automotive Design by H.K. Phlegm.

Some common topics covered in mostly Automotive Design programs are Design Principles, Sketching and Rendering, CAD (Computer-Aided Design) Software, CAD (Computer-Aided Design) Software, Vehicle Aerodynamics, etc. These subjects help students set their base knowledge around the structure of an Automobile and how to Design them.

Several Automotive Design courses are offered at the undergraduate level. You can either opt for a degree, a diploma or a certificate program. Here are some top options: 

• Diploma in Advanced Automobile Technology
• Diploma in Automobile Engineering
• Certificate in Automobile Design
• BE / B.Tech in Mechanical/ Automobile Engineering
• BDes (Bachelors in Design)
• BVoc (Bachelors in Vocational Studies)
• ME / M.Tech in Automobile Engineering
• MDes (Master in Design)

Listed below are some of the affordable Automotive Design colleges in India along with their tuition fees:

The table below shows the top private Automotive Design colleges in India along with their tuition fees:

Some of the most popular and commonly found job profiles in the Automotive Design field include an Automotive Designer, Automotive Design Strategist, Production Designer, CAD Specialist, CMF Designer, Ergonomics Lead, etc. Automotive Design students are commonly hired for these job roles in Automobile and Product Design industries across the globe.

There are hundreds of Automobile companies in India that hire Automotive Designers for various job roles. Here are some top options among them:
Ather Energy, Hero Electric, Okinawa Autotech, MG Motor India, Ashok Leyland, Force Motors, Hero MotoCorp, Renault, Volkswagen, Kia Motors, etc.

The Automobile industry is continuously evolving, generating opportunities for Designers and Developers who can adapt to the dynamic technologies and trends. Here are some of the latest trends ongoing in the Automotive industry:

• Electric Vehicles (EVs): Motor vehicles that are powered through electricity. They come in options such as full-electric and hybrid models, with a vision to minimize carbon emissions.
• Autonomous Driving: Self-driving automobiles with advanced technology, such as AI, smart sensors, etc.

The requirement for Automotive Designers worldwide is rising as Automobile companies seek to lower-cost nations for expansion and as consumers place more value on aesthetic and appearance. According to reports, India may need up to 10,000 Automobile Designers in the coming years.