What is Automotive Design? Courses, Fees, Top Institutes, Careers & Salary 2026

Updated on Jan 23, 2026 04:00 IST

Automotive Design courses focus on the physical characteristics of motor vehicles like cars, trucks, motorbikes, etc., and designing their exterior and interior. Students can study Automobile Design courses at the UG, PG, Diploma, Certification and PhD levels.

For admission, students usually have to pass Class 12 from any stream from a recognized board. The admissions are based on both merit and the entrance processes. Some popular entrance exams for the Automotive Design course are NIFT Entrance, CEED, NID Entrance, UCEED, etc.

Some popular Automotive Design colleges that students can explore are the WUD Sonepat, MIT-ADT University, Karnavati University, TISS, IIT Bombay, etc. The average course fee ranges from INR 8,000 to INR 25 Lakh. Some common job profiles one can go for are Automotive Design Engineer, Production Engineer at Automobile Plants, Production Planning and Control Engineer, etc.

The average salary of an Automotive Designer is INR 4.6 LPA in India. If interested, you can continue reading the article for more Automotive Design courses in India.

Links relevant to Car Designing courses -

List of NIFTs in India 2026: Ranks, Courses, Admission Process, Fees & NIFT Seat Intake

Automotive Design Course Details: Highlights

Students who are interested in working in automotive design usually have a variety of backgrounds but they all share a love of cars and artistic ability. Students can have a look at the table below to learn the key points related to the Automative Design course -

Parameters Course Details
Automotive Design Course Level UG, PG, Diploma, Certification, and PhD
Automotive Design Course Duration

UG: 3 - 4 Years

PG: 2 Years

PhD: 3 - 6 Years

Diploma/Certification: 3 Months - 1 Year

Automotive Design Eligibility Criteria Class 12 from any stream
Automotive Design Admission Criteria Merit and Entrance-based
 Automotive Design Entrance Exams NIFT Entrance, CEED, NID Entrance, UCEED, etc.
Automotive Design Top Colleges World University of Design, MIT-ADT University, Karnavati University, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, IIT Bombay, etc.
Automotive Design Course Fee INR 8,000 to INR 25 Lakh
Automotive Design Job Profiles Automotive Design Engineer, Production Engineer at Automobile Plants, Production Planning and Control Engineer
Automotive Design Top Recruiters Maruti Suzuki India, Hyundai Motor India, Mahindra & Mahindra, Tata Motors Ltd
Automotive Design Average Salary INR 4.6 LPA

Note - The information is taken from external sites and can vary.

Car Design course-related topics -

UCEED 2026 Part A vs Part B: What Decides Final Selection

Links useful for Car Designing courses:

NIFT Lateral Entry Admission 2025

 

Q:   What is Automotive Design?
A:

Automotive design course includes designing the vehicle's external characteristics. 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.

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Automotive Design Courses

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Q:   What are the benefits of Automobile Design courses?
A:

There are several reasons why many candidates prefer to pursue Automotive Design courses. Some of these are mentioned here. Take a look

  • 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.
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Table of contents
  • Automotive Design Eligibility Criteria & Admission Process 2026
  • Top Automotive Design Entrance Exams 2026
  • Automotive Design Course Syllabus
  • Best Automotive Design Colleges in India
  • Popular Private Automotive Design Colleges in India
  • Automotive Design Salary: Career Scope, Job Profiles & Top Recruiters
  • Automotive Design FAQs
  • Popular Automotive Design UG Courses
  • Popular Automotive Design PG Courses
View More

Automotive Design Eligibility Criteria & Admission Process 2026

If you are planning to have a career in the Automotive field, you need to pursue a Car Design course. For admission to any of the Car Designing courses, you have to meet the eligibility requirements for admission as given in the table below -

Course Level
Course Eligibility
BDes in Automotive Design
  • Must have at least passed Class 12 with 50 to 60% marks from any recognized board.
MDes in Automotive Design
  • Must have completed BSc/ BDes in any relevant discipline with at least 55% marks from a recognized university.
PhD in Automotive Design
  • Must have completed MSc/ MDes in any relevant discipline with at least 55% marks from a UGC-approved university.

Note - The information is taken from external sites and may vary.

Automotive Design Admission Process 2026

The Automotive Design admission is based on both merit and entrance exams. Most of the top colleges require entrance exam scores. Others, that provide admission on a merit basis, can conduct separate rounds, like the Personal Interview round, to analyze your abilities.

If you want to know how to get admission in Car Design courses in India, you can go through the general admission process given below.

Steps Details
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA See the eligibility criteria of your desired college and fulfill them.
REGISTRATION/APPLICATION Next, register on the official website of the college/exam body. Then, fill out the application form, attach the required documents, and pay the application fee to complete the application process.
ENTRANCE EXAMS Appear for the entrance exam (if applicable) at the decided time and venue.
VERIFICATION If involved in the merit-based admission process, you may have to wait for the college to verify your application and send a confirmation email if shortlisted.
RESULTS Stay updated regarding the result dates of the entrance exam, and visit the official site to see the results.
COUNSELLING SESSION Based on the score or rank, students become eligible for counselling or admission rounds. Fill out the choice forms indicating the preferred colleges and courses, and participate in the counselling session. 

Note - The information is taken from external sites and may vary.

 

Q:   Is there any age limit to pursue Automotive Design PG courses?
A:

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. 

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Q:   Which documents are required during admission process of Automotive Design course?
A:

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
  • A valid ID proof (Adhaar, Passport, PAN Card, etc.)
  • Passport-sized photographs
  • Migration Certificate
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Top Automotive Design Entrance Exams 2026

Admission to Car Designing courses is based on both the entrance and merit procedures. While some colleges accept national-level exam scores, some prefer to conduct university-level tests. Here are some popular design entrance exams for Automotive Design courses.

Entrance Exams

Exam Schedule
NIFT Entrance 2026 NIFT Entrance Exam Date 2026
CEED 2026 CEED Exam Date 2026
UCEED 2026 UCEED Exam Date 2026
NID Entrance 2026 NID Entrance Exam Date 2026

Note - The information is taken from the official website of the exam.

Recommended links for Car Designing courses -

CUET General Test Exam Pattern 2026: Structure, Total Marks & Important Topics

UCEED 2026 Part A vs Part B: What Decides Final Selection

 

May '26 - Jun '26

NIFT Stage 2: M.Des and M.F.M Interview

TENTATIVE

Jun '26

NIFT Stage 2 Admit Card

TENTATIVE

27 Feb ' 26

Last date to apply for March Attempt

14 Mar ' 26

SAT India exam (March attempt)

12 Feb ' 26

NID DAT 2026 (Prelims) - Results for M.Des

12 Feb ' 26 - 14 Feb ' 26

NID DAT 2026 (Prelims) - Results Recheck for M.Des

6 Mar ' 26

UCEED 2026 Result Date

10 Mar ' 26 - 31 Jul ' 26

UCEED 2026 Score Card

Q:   What is the difference between UCEED and CEED?
A:

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. 

Q:   What is the pattern of the NIFT exam?
A:

BDes Admission NIFT Exam Pattern for GAT

  • A number of sections: 5 (Quantitative Ability, Communication Ability, English Comprehension, Analytical Ability, General Knowledge, and Current Affairs). 
  • Duration of exam: 120 minutes (2 hours) 
  • Number of questions: 100 
  • Language of paper: English/ Hindi 
  • Number of answer choices: 4 
  • Mode of examination: Online-Remote Proctored Exam. I hope this will help you. 

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Automotive Design Courses

Automotive Design Course Syllabus

The Automotive Design course syllabus aims to teach you the artistic and technical skills of vehicle design, including its visualizations, design theory, and manufacturing. For your reference, here are some popular Automotive Design courses with their syllabus overview.

BDes Automotive Design Syllabus

The BDes in Automotive Design course syllabus is divided into 8 semesters, following the 4-year program. You can see the syllabus of the BDes Car Design course here.

BDes Automotive Design Subjects Semester 1
History of Automobile Design Elements of Form
Common Elective Form Semantics
BDes Automotive Design Subjects Semester 2
 Automobile Engineering & Technology Vehicle Packaging & Interior
Common Elective Sustainable Design
BDes Automotive Design Subjects Semester 3
Design Methodology and Research- Project Computer-Aided Vehicle Design- I
Material and Processes Automotive Design Drawing
BDes Automotive Design Subjects Semester 4
TransportationDesign Project - I Vehicle Packaging & Interior
Computer Aided Vehicle Design-II Common Elective
BDes Automotive Design Subjects Semester 5
Transportation Design Project - II Motion and Mechanics
Nature and Form Digital Automotive Rendering
BDes Automotive Design Subjects Semester 6
TransportationDesign Project - III Vehicle Interior Design
 Aerodynamics & Vehicle Exterior Design Design Management

Note - The information is taken from external sites and can vary.

More on Car Designing courses –

UCEED vs CEED 2026: Which Design Entrance Exam Was Tougher This Year?

Important Topics for CEED 2026: Part A & B Topics & Preparation Tips

CUET General Test Exam Pattern 2026: Structure, Total Marks & Important Topics

MDes Automotive Design Syllabus

The MDes in Automotive Design course syllabus is divided into 4 semesters, following the 2-year program. You can see the syllabus of the MDes Car Design course here.

MDes Automotive Design Subjects Semester 1

Introduction to Automotive Design Drawing and Visualization Skills
Design Principles and Theory Introduction to Engineering

MDes Automotive Design Subjects Semester 2

Automotive History and Cultural Impact Advanced Drawing and Rendering
Materials and Manufacturing Processes Vehicle Dynamics

MDes Automotive Design Subjects Semester 3

Digital Modeling and CAD Automotive Systems Integration
User-Centered Design in Automotive Design Project-1

MDes Automotive Design Subjects Semester 4

Advanced Topics in Automotive Design HMI Design
Design Project-2 Professional Communication and Portfolio Development

Note - The information is taken from external sites and can vary.

Q:   Are there any books recommended for Automotive Design students?
A:

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.
Q:   What are the important topics covered in an Automotive Design course?
A:

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. 

Best Automotive Design Colleges in India

There are around 23 colleges that offer Automotive Design courses in India. You can see the list of popular colleges that offer Automotive Design courses in India listed below.

Best Automotive Design Colleges Tuition Fee
CADCAMGURU, Pune INR 8,000 - 92,000
JSS Science and Technology University INR 1.28 Lakh
Unitedworld Institute of Design, Karnavati University INR 1.65 Lakh - 25.1 Lakh
World University of Design INR 2.25 Lakh - 14.72 Lakh
Industrial Design Centre - IIT Bombay INR 2.71 Lakh
BITS Pilani - WILP INR 2.8 Lakh
Skill Lync INR 3.5 Lakh
MIT Institute of Design, MIT-ADT University INR 6.5 Lakh
National Institute of Design, Gandhinagar INR 11.43 Lakh
KIIT School of Design, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology INR 14 Lakh

Note - The information is taken from the official site of the college.

Automobile Designing courses after 12th-related topics -

Best Industrial / Product Design Colleges in India

Rankings of Top Design Colleges in India 2026

Good Design Colleges Besides NID & NIFT

 

2.25 L - 14.72 L

#19 The Week

6.5 L
1.65 L - 25.1 L
2.0
1 Course
2.71 L
17.92 LPA
12.52 L

Automotive Design Applications open. Apply Now

1 Course
1.28 L
6.5 LPA
Q:   What are the affordable Automotive Design colleges in India?
A:

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

Low-cost CollegesTuition Fee
Rustomjee Academy for Global Careers, DahisarINR 91,000
CADCAMGURU, PuneINR 8,000 - INR 92,000
CADD Centre, HazratganjINR 90,000

Note - The information is taken from the official site of the college.

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Automotive Design Colleges in India

Q:   What are the top private colleges in India that offer Automotive Design course?
A:

The top private Automotive Design colleges in India with their tuition fees are here. Take a look

Private CollegesTuition Fee
World University of Design AdmissionINR 2 lakh - INR 13 lakh
MIT Institute of Design, MIT-ADT University AdmissionINR 5 lakh
Unitedworld Institute of Design, Karnavati University AdmissionINR 2 lakh - INR 25 lakh
UPES (Admission Office) AdmissionINR 8 lakh - INR 18 lakh
JSS Science and Technology University AdmissionINR 1 lakh

Note - The information is taken from the official site of the college.

Know more about -

Automotive Design Colleges in India

Popular Private Automotive Design Colleges in India

1.65 L - 25.1 L
2.0
12.52 L

Automotive Design Applications open. Apply Now

2.25 L - 14.72 L

#19 The Week

6.5 L
1 Course
2.71 L
17.92 LPA
1 Course
1.28 L
6.5 LPA

Automotive Design Salary: Career Scope, Job Profiles & Top Recruiters

The automotive design offers so many professional options that are always changing and offer chances for specialisation and advancement. To succeed in this cutthroat business, networking, keeping up with industry developments, and developing a solid portfolio can do wonders for you.

Automotive Design Salary & Job Profiles

Due to the expansion of the automotive industry, there is an urgent need for qualified people in the field of automotive design. Some of the popular jobs with their average salary, are given in the table below.

Job Profile Average Annual Salary
Automotive Designer INR 4.6 LPA
CAD Modeler INR 4.4 LPA
Automotive Engineer INR 6.2 LPA
Color and Materials Designer INR 6.5 LPA
Interior or Exterior Trim Designer INR 5.2 LPA
UX Designer INR 12.6 LPA
Sustainability Consultant INR 8.7 LPA
Automotive Stylist INR 5.8 LPA

Note - The salary is taken from Ambitionbox.com.

Links relevant to Car Designer courses -

Know all about Design Career Scope

Choosing Design as a career

Top Recruiters in Automobile Design

Automotive designers are sought after by a wide range of businesses and sectors that value their inventiveness, technical proficiency, and detailed knowledge of vehicle design principles. Some of the top recruiters are listed as follows -

Top Recruiters in Automotive Design
Microsoft
TCS – Tata Consultancy Services

Sony

Infosys Reliance FedEx
Ernst & Young Shell Mahindra

Note - The information is taken from external sites and can vary.

 

Q:   Which are the most popular job profiles for Automotive Design students worldwide?
A:

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. 

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Automotive Design Courses

Q:   Which are the top recruiters for Automotive Design graduates in India?
A:

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. 

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Automotive Design Courses

Automotive Design FAQs

Students can refer to this section for Automotive Design course FAQs.

 

Q:   Are Automotive Designers in demand these days?
A:

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.

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Automotive Design Courses

Q:   Is the NID DAT exam very difficult to crack?
A:

NID DAT, along with NIFT and UCEED are among the most competitive national-level entrance exams in the country. The fact that there are only 425 seats for the B. Des and 347 seats for the M.Des programme makes it very competitive. But that being said, if the candidate prepares well and with the correct strategy, then the NID DAT exam can be cracked. Among the first things the candidate needs to do is prepare a efficient study timetable get familiar with the syllabus and pattern, and use good books as reference material. 

Q:   Which is the best option after 12th Automotive Design course in India?
A:

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

  • 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)

Popular Automotive Design UG Courses

Following are the most popular Automotive Design UG Courses . You can explore the top Colleges offering these UG Courses by clicking the links below.

UG Courses

Popular Automotive Design PG Courses

Following are the most popular Automotive Design PG Courses . You can explore the top Colleges offering these PG Courses by clicking the links below.

PG Courses

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