Becoming an automotive designer in India can be a prosperous career for 12th students who had a PCM stream. If you’re wondering how to become an automotive designer or car designer, the first thing you must do is complete an automotive designer course of B.Tech ME in Automotive Designs & Electrical Vehicle. This undergraduate course after 12th will equip you with all the knowledge and skills needed as an automotive designer. Read this blog that deep dives into the topic of how to build a career as an automotive designer/car designer by providing you with all relevant information.

Automotive Designer: Brief Introduction

Automotive designers are creative technical artists who design and build the aesthetics of a vehicle while overseeing the safety needs of the customers. The Automotive designers have excellent engineering and business knowledge. The automotive design field doesn’t only revolve around the designing and engineering of automobiles (Four-wheelers) but all kinds of transportation vehicles. Many responsibilities come with this job profile:

• Conducting and doing proper research before starting the project on a certain project.
• Cost of production, time limit, categorising the vehicle and getting the agreement of other officials before starting a project.
• Make sure the mathematical application and calculations suit the measurements of the vehicle.
• Creating detailed sketches, digital models, and 3D prototypes to visualise the vehicle’s exterior and interior design.
• Collaborating with engineers, fabricators, and manufacturing teams to ensure designs are feasible and functional.
• Ensuring that all vehicle components meet safety regulations, ergonomics, and environmental standards.
• Staying updated with the latest trends in automotive styles, materials, and technologies.
• Evaluating design feedback, running simulations, and making adjustments to enhance performance and user experience.
• Overseeing the development of concept vehicles and presenting design proposals to stakeholders for approval.

How to become a Automotive Designer

If you really wish to become a automotive designer then first you should do is complete a bachelor’s degree in B.Tech ME in Automotive Designs & Electrical Vehicle. This is a 4 years automotive designer course that deep dives into solving problems with applications of mathematics, materials, engineering chemistry, engineering physics etc.

Eligibility Criteria

You must have passed 12th standard with PCM from a recognized board examination by Govt of India with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks.

Essential Skills to become an Automotive Designer

• The first thing is you must have a knack for cars or other transportation vehicles.
• Updating yourself with the latest design software.
• Skills and understanding of 2D and 3D drawing skills.
• Understanding of Mathematics and strong analytical skills.
• Business acumen and problem-solving skills.
• Knowledge of new trends in automobile designs.
• Strong creativity and visual imagination to conceptualise innovative vehicle designs.
• Understanding of aerodynamics, ergonomics, and material science.
• Proficiency in CAD tools like AutoCAD, CATIA, SolidWorks, or Blender.
• Ability to collaborate with multidisciplinary teams including engineers, model makers, and marketing professionals.
• Excellent communication skills for presenting design ideas and concepts.
• Attention to detail to ensure precision in measurements, styling, and safety requirements.
• Time-management skills to meet deadlines in fast-paced design environments.
• Adaptability to integrate sustainability and eco-friendly practices in design.

Demand for Automotive Designers in India

The automotive industry contributes 7.1 per cent of India’s GDP. Automotive vision plan 2019-2026, is a united future vision of Govt of India and the Indian Automotive Industry, it is expected that the automotive industry will employ 36 million people by the end of the year 2026. The automotive industry all around the globe is undergoing constant new innovations causing it to be highly dynamic. To keep up with such transformation is very important. So due to this, the new jobs will switch from traditional manufacturing to the fields of Automotive Design, Information Technology, Mechatronics, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and Deep Learning.

Employment Areas for Automotive Designers

Automotive design is a growing and prosperous field around because of the rising demand in various industries.

• Graphic Designing firms
• IT firms
• production firms
• Automobiles firms
• Marine transports
• Architectural firms

Top 10 Recruiting companies for Automotive Designers

There are various big and renowned companies around the globe that willingly wants to hire an automotive designer.

• Daimler, Germany

• Renault

• Nissan

• ABC Consultants

• Volkswagen Group

• Daimler, Germany

• Morgan Tec

• BMW, Germany

• Hyundai

• ABC Consultants

Career Options After Automotive Design Course

Automotive Engineers

Automotive Engineers are involved in the process of designing, manufacturing, marketing, distribution and sales of vehicles of any category like trucks, cars, motorbikes etc. One of their major responsibility is working on the aesthetics and technical performance of the vehicles.

Automotive Designer

Automotive Designer conducts and does proper research before starting a project on a certain project. Cost of production, time limit, categorising the vehicle and getting the agreement of other officials before starting a project. Make sure the mathematical application and calculations suit the measurements of the vehicle.

Production Engineer

Production Engineer’s various responsibilities are entitled to this job profile. Making development plans and managing coordination between engineers on day to day basis. Ensuring the materials & equipment are being used to their fullest to produce high-quality products.

Product Designer

These are professionals with the responsibility to oversee the design process of a product from the start to the end and also the enhancement or development of an existing product. They have a clear vision of how to design the product with attention to every small detail to meet the desired product goals.

Drafter

As a drafter, you need to cooperate with architects and engineers on equal terms to collect product structure, design and requirements. Also, their responsibilities include the availability of materials and redesigning of products for better functionality.

Additionally, drafters prepare detailed technical drawings, blueprints, and models that guide the construction or manufacturing process. They ensure every specification is accurate and aligns with industry standards. Drafters must also review designs for errors, suggest improvements, and update documents based on feedback from project teams.

Their role often requires proficiency in CAD software, attention to detail, and the ability to interpret complex engineering concepts. Furthermore, they contribute significantly to project timelines by delivering precise drafts that reduce errors and enhance overall efficiency.

Pay Scale of Automotive Designers

The average annual automotive designer salary in India is around 6lacs annually. In other developed countries like the USA, Canada, UK, Australia and Germany the average annual automotive designer salary is between 35 lacs to 55 lacs. Also, the salaries depend upon various factors such as years of experience, skills, city, country or automotive company you’re working for.

Conclusion

Finally, I would say anyone who is interested in car designs and functions should pursue a career as an automotive designer/car designer. You can pursue Btech ME with Automotive Designs & Electrical Vehicle to become a full-fledged automotive designer. This growing and demanding field offer you attractive salary packages and good living standards.

FAQs

What qualifications do I need to become an automotive designer?

Most automotive designers hold a Bachelor’s degree in Automotive Design, Industrial Design, Mechanical Engineering, or Transportation Design. Specialized courses in vehicle design or CAD tools also give an added advantage.

Is drawing skill necessary for automotive design?

Yes. Strong sketching, 2D drawing, and 3D visualisation skills are essential as they help you express ideas clearly during the design process.

Which software tools should automotive designers learn?

Professionals in this field must master CAD tools like AutoCAD, CATIA, Autodesk Alias, SolidWorks, Rhino, and Blender for digital modelling and rendering.

What industries hire automotive designers?

Automotive designers are hired by car manufacturers, EV companies, design studios, mobility startups, aerospace companies, and transportation technology firms.