How to Become an Automobile Designer: Career Guide, Courses, After 12th, Jobs, Scope, Salary

Automobile Designers, also known as automotive stylists, are specialized designers who combine their technical knowledge of mechanics into production, improving the style ,appearance and aerodynamic design of automobiles. An Automobile Designer needs to be creative , innovative, and should have advanced knowledge of math and Physics with some mechanical knowledge of Cars. It is projected that the global automotive industry will grow to nine trillion US dollars by 2030.

In order to become an Automobile Designer, aspiring candidates can choose to pursue Undergraduate or Postgraduate degree in Automobile Engineering or Automobile design Courses such as Bachelor of Technology (Automotive Design Engineering)M.Tech in Automobile Engineering from any of the top Automobile Engineering Colleges across the country. Admissions to these colleges are done on the basis of various Engineering Entrance Exams such as JEE Mains, JEE Advanced, GATE, VITEEE, CUEE, UCEED, etc. Read More: Automotive Designer Jobs

The average fees for an Automobile Designing course ranges from INR 40,000 - 2.20 LPA. Some of the top Automobile Companies who hire fresh graduates as well as experienced candidates for various positions are ABC Consultants, Black Turtle, Cadcrowd, CRPL, Year Later and many more. The average salary of an Automotive Designer ranges from INR 4 L – 6 LPA. While the average salary of candidates with some substantial years of experience will range between INR 9.80 L - 15.3 LPA. Read More: Automobile Designer Salary

How to Become a Automobile Designer: Quick Facts

Industry Automobile Designing
Eligibility Undergraduate or Postgraduate in Automotive designing with a minimum aggregate of 55% or above.
Certifications Certificate in automotive technology,
Car sketching basics,
Car design,
Automotive Digital Render
Top Recruiters Renault
ABC Consultants
Morgan Tec
BMW Germany
Nissan
Hyundai
Related Industries Graphic Designing firms, Automobile firms, IT firms, Architectural firms, Production Firms
Required Skills Creativity, Drawing skills, CAD, Communication skills, Critical thinking skills, Team work
Average Starting Salary INR 4.20 LPA
Highest Salary INR 17.2 LPA & above

Qualifications Required to Become a Automobile Designer

The major qualifications required in order to become an Automobile Designer are listed below for your reference,

  • Candidates must complete their graduation in Automobile Designing with a minimum aggregate score of 50% and above.
  • Aspiring candidates must have a degree preferably in Automotive Design, transportation design or industrial design in order to become a Automobile Designer
  • The candidates must possess some additional skills like 3D design, color theory, CAD, model making and industrial materials will lend you an upper hand in the automotive industry.
  • After pursuing graduation, candidates can pursue post graduation in industrial design , automobile engineering. 

Types of Automobile Designers

There are different types of Automobile Designers job roles based o n their specialization and area of expertise. Tabulated below are a few of them for your reference, 

Architect

Definition Their main role generally includes to design structures for the inside and outside of the automobile . They also collect relevant information including environmental impact, site selection, building codes and zoning laws.
Average Annual Salary (INR) 3 LPA

Drafters

Definition The main duty of the drafter is to convert the designs into technical drawings or in 3D designs using several software programs or computer aids.
Average Annual Salary (INR) 2.11 LPA

Automotive Engineers

Definition Automotive engineers are those who design automobiles or old automobiles to modify and upgrade them. They also solve or troubleshoot other engineering issues.
Average Annual Salary (INR) 6.06 LPA

Product Designers

Definition Their main duty includes to design the products of the automobile and also focus on improving the existing products and making them more efficient.
Average Annual Salary (INR) 9 LPA

Designers

Definition The main responsibility of a designer is to illustrate and consistently produce excellent designing works.
Average Annual Salary (INR) 6 LPA

Steps to Become a Automobile Designer

There are various steps that must be followed in order to pursue a particular career. Almost every career has its own steps and pathways that should be made an essential gateway for a hasslefree career establishment.

The table below will discuss in detail the steps that are necessary to become a successful Automobile Designer,

Complete Graduation Candidates must pursue a bachelor's degree in relevant subjects along with a core understanding of automobile design, industrial design, etc along with some key skills such as CAD, 3D designing etc.
Adapt technical skills There are various technical skills which can be adapted such as knowledge of machines, Logical ability, AMCAT, Mapping, 3D designing, Color theory, etc.
Get into an Internship The candidate must consider applying for internships at design firms. They can also enroll for paid or even unpaid internships. This would help the candidates to understand job roles which will add value to candidates' resumes.
Pursue Masters Degree The candidate must choose to earn a master’s degree to qualify for higher paying jobs and to expand their knowledge and skills.
Build Portfolio The candidate should build a portfolio which showcases their creativity and awareness of all recent techniques and designs. The candidates can make sketches. They could also work as freelancers.

How to Become a Automobile Designer in India

Preparations to become an Automobile Designer should begin right from school. After clearing Class 10 board exams, the candidate must choose Science stream along with mandatory subjects such as Mathematics and Computer Science. After clearing Class 12th board exams candidates have to pursue Undergraduate courses such as B.Tech in Automobile Engineering and likewise courses by clearing several engineering entrance exams that would help them to get enrolled in top Automobile Designing colleges in India. 

The sections below will discuss in detail about the steps that must be taken in order to become an Automobile Designer in India. 

School Level Preparation: In order to become a Automobile Designer the steps that are to be followed are mentioned below,

  • The candidates must have Computer Science or Mathematics at higher secondary level.
  • The candidate has to qualify an entrance exam to get admission into a Bachelor’s degree program in automotive engineering, industrial design, transport designing, automobile designing, etc.
  • Candidates can prepare for the entrance exam by taking admission in the various coaching centers such as Aakash Institute, FIITJEE, etc..
  • The candidates must solve the previous year's paper for better understanding of the pattern for the entrance examination.

Quick Links:

How to Become a Automobile Designer After 12th

Undergraduate Preparations: Some of the crucial steps that are to be followed to become a Automobile Designer after completing Class 12th board exams are mentioned below for your reference,

  • Candidates in order to be an Automobile Designers should first clear various entrance exams that are conducted such as JEE Main, JEE Advanced, BITSAT etc and get enrolled in a bachelor’s degree program across top institutes.
  • Candidate can pursue B.Tech in Automotive design, industrial design, transportation design course etc. . 
  • The candidates can also enroll in alternative courses such as a diploma or Post graduate diploma in Automotive Service Technology, Automotive Engineering , etc. 
  • During their undergraduate courses, they can pursue other certification courses such as 3D designing courses, CAD, EDX, Udemy Courses, etc. for better understanding of the subjects. 
  • Candidates must score a minimum aggregate of 50% or above in graduation.
  • Candidates with other relevant degrees in Science , Applied Science and M.Sc degree are eligible to apply for post graduate courses in Automobile Designing.

Post-Graduation Preparation: The key steps to be followed to become a after completing Undergraduate courses are,

  • The candidates shall start preparing for entrance exams such as GATE, AP PGCET, TS PGCET, VITEEE etc. after completing graduation.
  • Candidates must choose their specialization while pursuing masters such as Electronics and control systems, Fluid Mechanics, etc. 
  • Candidates while pursuing their studies can also enroll themselves for workshops or internships to understand the role in a better way.
  • After completion of the PG course, the candidates can opt for PhD courses and carry on with their research or can pursue the job as Automobile designer.

Automobile Designer Courses

Some of the top courses that can be pursued in order to become an Automobile Designer are tabulated below for your reference, 

Parameters B.Tech Automotive Design Engineering M.Tech in Automotive Engineering Post Graduate Diploma in Automotive Design Diploma in Automotive Engineering
Duration 4 years 2 years 1 to 2 years 1 year
Eligibility Candidate must complete their class 12th with physics, chemistry and mathematics
Minimum Of aggregate of 50% or above.
Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree in Automobile Engineering, Production engineering, Industrial engineering, etc.
A minimum aggregate of 50% or above in undergraduate course
Valid GATE examination score
Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree in Automobile Engineering, Production engineering, Industrial engineering, etc. Candidate must have passed Class XII
Top Colleges UPES
CUTM
Vellore Institute of Technology
Birla Institute of Technology
IIT
Anna University
Vellore Institute of Technology
NIT
BITS
Chandigarh University
Government Polytechnic College, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu DYPDC School of Design
Symbiosis International University
Kalapurnam Institute
Entrance Exams JEE Main
JEE Advanced
GATE
AP PGECET
VIITMEE
Merit based Merit Based
Average course fees INR 60000- 5.4 LPA INR 4800- 2.3 LPA INR 10000-30000 INR 10000-30000
Average Salary INR 2 L- 6 LPA INR 2.78 L- 7.26 LPA INR 2 L- 5 LPA INR 2 L- 5 LPA

How to Become a Automobile Designer Abroad

There are several universities abroad offering undergraduate or postgraduate Automobile Design courses apart from India. Some of the top countries offering Automobile Design courses include the UK, USA, Canada, and Australia. However, before applying for these courses one should fulfill basic prerequisites that are discussed below for your reference. 

  • Candidates must clear class 12th boards or equivalent exam and must have Mathematics, Physics, chemistry and computer Science as their main subjects.
  • The candidates must pass either of the English proficiency tests such as IELTS or TOEFL.
  • The candidate must score a minimum of 6.5 in IELTS.
  • Candidates must produce a Statement of Purpose (SOP) for studying across any of the counties abroad
  • In the case of PG programs, the candidates must obtain a minimum of 70% score in their Graduate Examination.
  • For applying in the UK, the candidate must have at least 28 points on the international Baccalaureate to be considered AAA levels and must include math and Physical Science.
  • The candidates must also take the GRE exam.
  • Candidates would have to provide proof of work experience in the relevant field.

Top Automobile Designer Colleges

There are almost 34 Automotive Design colleges in India for both Undergraduate and Postgraduate courses. India is also home to almost 334 Automobile Engineering Colleges in India. India has about 350 B.Tech in Automobile Engineering colleges, out of which 89% are private, 10% are government and the rest are public-private. 

Similarly there are several top colleges and universities abroad who offer courses to become Automobile Designers such as Indiana University, Cornell University and many more.

Some of the top colleges that help candidates become Automobile Designers are tabulated below for your reference.

India

Name of the Colleges Location Average Course Fees (INR)
Loyola College Chennai 16,790
IIT Mumbai Mumbai 74000
SPC Education Center Jaipur 2500
Parul Education Center Vadodara 2.25 L
IIT Madras Chennai 17,670
IIT Guwahati Guwahati, Assam 23,750
IIT Indore Indore 48,300
Vellore Institute of Technology Vellore 77,000
St. Theresa College (Autonomous) Ernakulam 7000
Symbiosis International University Pune 3.98 L

Abroad

Name of the Colleges Location Average Annual Fees (INR)
Indiana University USA 20.00 L
Cornell University USA 42.96 L
Huddersfield University UK 8.12 L
Coventry University UK 15.42 L
Northumbria University UK 15.28 L
University of Ontario Institute of Technology Canada 6.76 L
Ryerson University Canada 8.90 L
University of Ottawa Canada 20.57 L
Baxter Institute Australia 7.71 L
Southern Institute of Technology Australia 20.12 L

Automobile Design Industry

The rising income of the middle class and huge youth population has resulted in an exponential rise in demand for automobiles nationally as well as globally. It was reported that the total production of passenger vehicles, three vehicles, two wheelers reached 1,860,809 units. In FY 21, India’s annual production of automobiles was 22.65 million vehicles. India has emerged as one of the prominent automobile exporters and is also expected to grow in future. Several Initiatives by the Government of India and automobile companies in the Indian market are expected to make India one of the top leaders in the world market by 2024. The Government of India encourages foreign investment in the automobile sector and has allowed 100% FDI under the automatic route.

Skills Required to become a Automobile Designer

Some of the most essential skill sets that are required to become a Automobile Designer in India are tabulated below for your reference, 

Artistic Mind Color Theory 3D Drawing
CAD Management Skills Knowledge of math & physics
Teamwork Creative Mapping

Pros & Cons of Becoming a Automobile Designer

Every job comes with its own package of perks as well as shortcomings. Some of the major positives and negatives of becoming a Automobile Designers are tabulated below for your reference.

Pros of Becoming a Automobile Designer

  • Good Salary Package: The average salary of an automobile designer is around INR 2.41 L- 5.20 LPA for freshers. The pay is decent according to the work. It keeps on increasing based on one's experience, quality of work, better qualification, etc. Candidates with some experience earn a salary of INR 8 L- 12 LPA. 
  • Scope for showcasing creativity: An automobile designer requires creativity and they have to be innovative. They build structured models of automobiles and there is a lot of scope and area where they can be creative. They get to design complex and innovative products
  • Vast opportunities: With the increase in demand for automotive designers, aspirants have multiple opportunities to experiment with their ideas. Along with designing, automotive designers also work on drafting and engineering the automobile. 

Cons of Becoming a Automobile Designer

  • Exhausting: The job of an automobile designer is to keep their mind running all the time and incorporate his ideas in work. Thus, it can be really exhausting sometimes. 
  • Pressure of deadlines: Automobile designers have a very stressful life. They have to meet several deadlines and need to be creative all the time as it can hamper their work.
  • Slow growth: Since there is less demand for automobiles designers in India as a lot of automobile manufacturing units are located outside India. 

Top Recruiters for Automobile Designers

Some of the major MNCs who hire fresher as well as experienced Automobile Designers are tabulated below for your reference, 

Renault ABC Consultants Maruti Suzuki
BMW Germany GoMechanic CRPL
Ferrari Bugatti MorganTEC

Salary of a Automobile Designer

The average salary of an Automobile Designer in India usually ranges between INR 4.2 L - 7.3 LPA. However this amount varies measured on different parameters such as Specialization, experience, city, etc. 

The average salary of a Automobile Designer of various specialization are tabulated below for your reference, 

Specialization Average Annual Salary (INR)
Automotive Architect 1.73 L
Automotive Design Drafter 2.01 L
Automotive Engineer 3.40 L
Automotive Product Designer 2.73 L

How to Become a Automobile Designer: FAQs

Ques. What do Automobile designers do?

Ans. The Duties of Automobile designers include

  • Drafting layouts of automobile components
  • Collaborating with engineers to ensure all calculations and mathematical formulas are correct
  • Meeting the needs of consumers.

Ques. What are the areas of recruitment of Automobile designers ?

Ans. The areas of recruitment of Automobile designers are :

  • Graphic Designing Firms
  • Automobile firms
  • IT Firms
  • Architectural Firms
  • Production Firms

Ques. Name the top companies for Automobile designers ?

Ans. The top companies for automobile designers in India are:

  • BMW Germany
  • ABC Consultants
  • CadCrowd
  • PeopleStrong
  • CRPL

Ques. What is the average salary of an Automobile designer in India?

Ans. The starting salary of an Automobile Designer in India ranges between INR 2.24 L - 5.20 LPA. while the salary of an Automobile Designer with 5 - 8 years of experience is around INR 8.32 LPA and the senior level salary is above INR 19.00 LPA.

Ques. What is the advantage of being an Automobile designer ?

Ans. The advantage of an automotive designer is that this profession can give a lot of scope to experiment and reveal his creative side. The salary package offered is also quite decent.

Ques.Can Automobile designers work as a Freelancer?

Ans. Yes, the automobile designers are free to work at their own will as an independent professional. 

Ques. What are the skills required to be Automobile designers ?

Ans. The skills required to become an automobile designers are :

  • 3D Designs
  • CAD
  • Mathematical & analytical skills
  • Complex problem solving skills

Ques. which certificate courses to pursue to become an Automobile designer ?

Ans. The certificate courses to pursue to become an Automobile designer are:

Certificate in automotive technology, 

Car sketching basics,

Car design, 

Automotive Digital Render

Ques. What is the time taken to become an Automobile designer ?

Ans - The time taken to become an Automobile Designer in India is around 6-7 years for completing both Undergraduate and Postgraduate courses.

Ques. Is it hard to become an Automobile designer?

Ans. To become an automotive designer, students have to work hard. Along with studying and gathering knowledge, students must also work on enhancing their skills. They need to practice drawing cars and their parts to improve themselves.

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