The Automobile Industry has always been recognized with dynamism all over the world. It has been associated with fast track life, especially in big towns and cities. The task of moving people and goods has become much easier and faster after the entry of fast automobiles in both Passenger and commercial segments.
What is Automobile Industry
All the companies and activities that involve the manufacture of motor vehicles, its components such as engines and bodies constitute the Automobile Industry. The Automobile Industry, however, excludes tires, batteries, and fuel which belong to other industries.
Passenger vehicles and light trucks are the main products of the Automobile Industry. Commercial vehicles such as delivery trucks and large transport trucks though important to the industry are secondary.
A Brief History Of Automobile Industry
The first modern passenger car was invented in 1901 by Wilhelm Maybach, known as Mercedes for Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft.
Although the automobile was first invented in Germany and France, the automobile industry was quickly dominated by the Americans in the first half of the twentieth century.
The innovative mass-production techniques by Henry Ford set the standards in the automobile industry. Soon by the 1920’s Ford Motors, General Motors, and Chrysler emerged as the top three players in the automobile industry.
By 1913, the United States was producing about 485,000 motor vehicles which were roughly 80% of the total world’s market share in the automobile industry.
It was only after the second world war that the demand for motor vehicles soared in Europe and Japan. By the 1980’s Japanese carmakers like Toyota, Nissan, Suzuki started dominating the global automobile market leaving their American Carmakers far behind.
Automobile Industry in India
It was way back in 1897, that the first car was driven on Indian roads by none other than Jamshedji Tata. However, it was in 1942, that Hindustan Motors manufactured the first automobile in India.
Soon after Independence, the Indian Government tried to boost the sector by encouraging the manufacturing of automobiles by Indian companies. However, till the 1980s, only two companies dominated the Indian automobile Industry, Hindustan Motors and Premier. The Utility vehicle market was dominated by Mahindra & Mahindra.
By the 1980’s Japanese carmaker Suzuki entered the Indian market with collaboration with Maruti naming it Maruti Suzuki, a public sector company. They jointly set up a manufacturing plant in Haryana. Maruti Suzuki has been dominating the Indian Automobile market to date due to its fuel efficiency and low cost and maintenance.
The economic reforms by the government led to the entry of other major automakers like Hyundai, Honda, Mercedes, Skoda, Volkswagen into the Indian Market. By the period 2000-2010, almost every major car maker entered the Indian market and also established their manufacturing facilities in India.
India has become the hub for automakers all over the world who are now setting their manufacturing plants in India. Chennai has become Detroit of India With the majority of car makers setting their manufacturing plant there. In second place are Mumbai and Pune belts.
Today India Automobile Industry is the fifth largest in the world in terms of cars, Seventh largest in terms of Commercial Vehicles. It was the third-largest exporter of cars in Asia by 2010.
The Two-Wheeler Market in India
In India, the 2 wheeler Industry was started in the early 1950s when Automobile Products in India(API) started manufacturing scooters in India.
Bajaj Auto started to import Vespa Scooter into India in 1948. In 1960, Bajaj Auto started to manufacture scooters in India in collaboration with Piaggio of Italy.
The Motorcycle segment has three major manufacturers Enfield, Ideal Jawa, and Escorts. It was in the 1980s that the motorcycle market really caught up. The top two slots were occupied by TVS Suzuki and Hero Honda. Today India is the world’s largest market for the Two-wheeler segment.
Why a Career in Automobile Industry
As per the Automobile Industry report, the Indian automobile industry is the fifth-largest in the world in passenger vehicles and the seventh-largest manufacturer in commercial vehicles in 2019.
Indian automotive industry(including component manufacturing) is expected to reach US$ 251.4-282.8 billion) by 2026.
The automobile industry has attracted foreign direct investment(FDI) worth US$25.85 billion from the year 2000 to 2021.
Domestic production of automobiles has increased at the rate of 2.36% between the years 2016 and 2020. About 26.26 million vehicles were manufactured in the country in 2020.
Domestic automobiles sales have increased at the rate of 1.29% between the year 2016 and 2020 with 21.55 million vehicles being sold in 2020.
The Indian auto market is dominated by Two-wheelers and Passenger cars. The two-wheeler market share is 80.8% and passenger car market share is 12.9% respectively in the Indian auto market in 2020.
Passenger Vehicles sales showed growth by 28.39% in March 2021in the Indian market.
Automobile export has reached 4.77 million vehicles in 2020, a 6.94% growth rate from 2016 to 2020. The Two-wheeler share was 73.9%, followed by passenger cars at 14.2%, three-wheelers at 10.5%, and 1.3% at commercial vehicles.
The electric vehicle market in India is estimated to be at Rs50,000 crores(US$7.09 billion) by the year.2025.
With companies like Hyundai, MG Motors, Mercedes, and Tata Motors investing in the electric vehicles market, the electric vehicle market in India is likely to increase at the rate of 36% by 2026.
The Government aims to develop India as a global manufacturing and research and development(R&D) hub. It expects the automobile industry to attract US$8-10 billion in local and foreign investment by the year 2023.
Thus there is a lot of scope in the Automobile Industry in India for those who want to pursue a career in the automobile industry. All you must have is a passion for cars and bikes and skills for hands-on work and technology.
Job Profiles in Automobile Industry
There are varieties of roles for you in the automobile industry to fill. All you have to do is to understand the responsibilities of those roles. You will have an opportunity to work with people who share the same passion for cars and the skills that you possess to work in the automobile sector.
Jobs in the automobile industry include maintenance, repair, design, development, sales, and customer service. Let us discuss a few of the career profiles across all sectors in the automobile industry.
-
Car Detailer
Car detailers are responsible for cleaning the interior and exterior of vehicles including washing, vacuuming, waxing, and polishing the car.
- Car rental agent
Car rental agents rent cars to those customers who temporarily need the vehicle.Car rental agents should possess knowledge of the operation and technological features of a variety of vehicle types.
-
Vehicle Inspector
The Vehicle inspector’s responsibility is to ensure that the vehicles meet the standard safety standards. They check the cars for damages and recommend repairs in case they find malfunctions.
-
Auto-body repair technician
Auto body repair technician’s responsibility is to safely fix car frames, suspensions, dents, windows, and the wheel alignment of a damaged car. They mainly focus on the exterior,non-mechanical components of the vehicles and try to make them new again.
-
Auto Mechanic
The task of Auto mechanics is to carry out routine maintenance, diagnostic testing, and mechanical repairs of the vehicle. They mainly work on motorized components including engines, drive belts, power steering, brakes, and transmissions. Auto mechanics are familiar with vehicle regulations and technological systems of the vehicles. They ensure that the vehicles are safely returned to the owner.
-
Auto electrician
The task of the Auto electricians is to inspect, repair and maintain the vehicle’s headlights, dashboards, warning lights, alarm systems, circuit boards, and starter motors. They deal with all kinds of electric issues within the vehicle.
7. Vehicle Salesperson
The role of the car salesman is to help customers find the right car. They explain the benefits of various vehicles and the differences between them. They build relationships with their customers, understand their needs, and encourage customers to purchase a second time from their dealerships.
8. Auto-Sales Manager
The responsibility of the Auto-Sales Manager is to forecast vehicle demand and preferences for their area, maintain inventory levels, and managing the car sales team. The Sales Manager oversees various promotional activities and discounts, public relations events, and advertising campaigns
9. Auto-Engineer
Auto engineers do research, develop and design the technical systems in the vehicles. They work with the development and the design team and utilize advanced technology in the vehicle’s navigation, warning, control, and fuel systems. Auto-engineer continues to innovate and develop new systems based on current market trends.
10. Process Engineer
The process engineer is responsible for the plant production process and maintains automated systems. They also resolve technical issues. They must have a thorough knowledge and technical expertise in the automated manufacturing process. The process engineers have to work independently and oversee the efficiency of the plant.
11) Auto Designer
The overall appearance of the interior and exterior of the car is the responsibility of Auto designers. They use the art of engineering and business to give the car a more aerodynamic shape, efficient in function, and cost-effective. They use their creative skills to incorporate mechanical, electrical, technical, and comfort features.
12) Quality Testing Engineer
The quality testing engineer is responsible for testing all the components of a vehicle. They develop and execute a test case to resolve any quality defects. Their role is to regularly ensure the highest quality of the entire vehicle.
In case you have business acumen and entrepreneurship inside you and want to start your own business, the Automobile Industry has tremendous opportunities for that also. You can be an automobile or service center owner, start a spot cleaning and maintenance services, be a loss assessor and surveyor. You can start your own automobile components manufacturing unit, can become a Business consultant, accessories vendor, and many more.
How can you build a career in Automobile Industry?
The Automobile Industry has become one of the most vital parts of human life. In today’s world, no work can be completed no matter how small it is without the use of vehicles.
With the Automobile Industry growing at a tremendous pace in India making it one of the fastest-growing industries in India, there is a lot of scope in this industry for those who seek to start their career in Automobile Engineering.
A degree in Automobile Engineering will be your first step to make a career in the Automobile Industry. As an Automobile Engineer, you will have to combine several elements of Mechanical engineering, Electrical engineering, Software engineering, safety, and environmental aspects in your work.
Skills required to become Automobile Engineer
To become an Automobile Engineer you must possess or acquire few necessary skills. Here are a few of them.
- The students must be strong in Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry.
- The students must have a passion for cars and have an interest in auto mechanics.
- Students must have a creative bent of mind and must be able to provide innovative solutions in repairs, designing, and drawing.
- Must be proficient in coding in Python, C++, Linux.
- Must be proficient in Machine Learning and Deep Learning.
Eligibility Criteria to become an Automobile Engineer
A degree in Automobile Engineering requires an intensive four-engineering course in BE or B-Tech from an engineering college. Here are the eligibility criteria of the automobile engineering course-
- Students must have passed their 10+2 board or equivalent exam from a recognized board with physics, chemistry, and maths as main subjects.
- Must have scored a minimum of 50% marks in their board exams(60% for BITS, NITs, and IITs)
- Diploma holders in the mechanical and electrical or electronic streams can also take admission in automobile engineering in the second year by taking a lateral entry entrance exam.
- Candidates with Bachelor’s degree in science are eligible in automobile engineering through lateral entry.
Automobile Engineering Courses
Aspirants have the opportunity to choose Diploma, Degree, Doctoral, or Master’s courses depending on their eligibility. These courses equip the candidates with the necessary skills and knowledge to become automobile engineers.
Here are few automobile engineering courses offered by the institutes in India
Automobile Engineering Degree Courses
| Course | Duration |
| B.Tech in Automobile Engineering | 4 Years |
| B.Tech in Automotive Design Engineering | 4 Years |
| B.E in Automobile Engineering | 4 Years |
Automobile Engineering Certificate Courses
| Course | Duration |
| Certificate Course in Automobile Engineering | 1 Year |
| Certificate Course in Automobile Repair & Driving | 1 Year |
Automobile Engineering Diploma Courses
| Course | Duration |
| Diploma in Automobile Engineering | 3 Years |
Automobile Engineering Master’s Courses
| Course | Duration |
| M.Tech in Automobile Engineering | 2 Years |
| M.Tech in Automotive Engineering & e-Manufacturing | 2 Years |
| M.E in Automobile Engineering | 2 Years |
Doctoral Courses
| Course | Duration |
| Ph.D. in Automobile Engineering | 3 Years |
Courtesy:embibe.com
Few of the specializations available in automobile engineering are-
- Supply chain management
- Thermodynamics
- Rapid Prototyping
- Fuel Technology and emissions.
- Fluid Mechanics
- Engine Systems
- Emission control
- Engine Systems
- Computer-based systems and electronics
- Aerodynamics
- Electronics and control systems
Top Automobile Engineering Colleges
Here are a few of the top institutes in India that offer an Automobile Engineering degree
| S.No | Name of College | Course Fees |
| 1 | IIT, Delhi | Rs 3.6 lakh |
| 2 | IIT, Roorkee | Rs 2.9 lakh |
| 3 | Sathyabama University, Chennai | Rs 1.7-2 lakh |
| 4 | Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal | Rs 14.41 lakh |
| 5 | Madras Institute of Technology, Chennai | Rs 3 lakh |
courtesy:embibe.com
Here are a few of the entrance exams for Automobile engineering admission to colleges.
- JEE Main
- AP EAMCET(Andhra Pradesh Engineering, Agriculture and Medical Common Entrance Test)
- BCECE(Bihar Combined Entrance Competitive exam)
- BITSAT(Birla Institute of Technology and Science Admission Test)
- JEE Advanced(Joint Entrance Examination Advanced)
- TE EAMCET(Telangana Engineering Agriculture and Medical Common Entrance Test)
- UPSEE(Uttar Pradesh State Entrance Exam)
courtesy:embibe.com
There are a lot of opportunities available for students in various Multinational and Indian Companies who have completed their BTech in Automobile engineering. The company seeks candidates who are spontaneous, eager to learn, challenge-seeker,time-bound, and are dedicated to the work assigned to them on a timely basis.
Top Automobile Companies in India
Here are the Top Automobile Companies in 2021 where students can seek Automobile Engineering jobs.
-
Tata Motors Ltd
Tata Motors is the largest automobile company in India and one of the largest in the world. It provides mobility solutions to over 175 countries. It manufactures a wide range of cars, utility vehicles, trucks, and buses. Its market share in the Indian Market is 45.1% in 2018-19.
-
Maruti Suzuki Ltd.
Maruti Suzuki is the market leader in the Passenger cars segment in India. It is a joint venture between Govt. of India and Maruti Suzuki. It is the second-largest automobile company in India in terms of revenue.
-
Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd.
Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. is the third-largest automobile company in India by sales. It manufactures a range of vehicles that include
Commercial Vehicles, Tractors, Passenger Vehicles, UV, and LCV.
-
Hero Motocorp Ltd
Hero Motocorp is the largest manufacturer of two-wheelers in terms of sales in the world. It has satisfied customers all over the globe. It is the only Indian Company to set up its manufacturing company in Columbia.
-
Bajaj Auto
With a presence in over 70 countries, Bajaj Auto is the world’s third-largest manufacturer of two-wheelers. Bajaj Brand is well known in countries in Latin America, Africa, Middle East, South, and Southeast Asia. Bajaj Auto is the fifth largest automobile company in India. It has a 48% share in KTM AG of Austria, the fastest-growing Motorcycle brand in the World.
-
Ashok Leyland Ltd.
Ashok Leyland is the flagship company of the Hinduja group. It is the second-largest manufacturer of commercial vehicles in India. It is the fourth largest manufacturer of buses in the world and the tenth-largest manufacturer of trucks. Ashok Leyland had launched India’s first electric bus and euro 6 compliant truck in 2016. It has over one million buses all over the world.
-
TVS Motor -Company Ltd.
TVS Motor Company is India’s third-largest two-wheeler manufacturing company. The company has an annual production capacity of over four million two-wheelers and 120,000 3 wheelers. The company has 4 manufacturing plants in India.
-
Eicher Motors Ltd.
Eicher Motors is the parent company of Royal Enfield which is the global leader in middleweight motorcycles. Royal Enfield has a manufacturing plant in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Eicher Motors also has a joint venture with Sweden’s AB Volvo- — Volvo Eicher Commercial Vehicle to manufacture commercial vehicles like trucks and buses in India.
-
Force Motors Ltd.
Force Motors was established in 1958 to provide affordable commercial transport for small business owners. Today it manufactures a range of vehicles in Small Commercial vehicles, Multi-utility vehicles, Light Commercial Vehicles, Special Utility Vehicles, and Agricultural Vehicles.
-
SML ISUZU Ltd.
SML ISUZU Ltd established in 1985, has over 33 years of experience in producing light & commercial vehicles to meet Indian customer needs. It is the first company in India to build buses, Ambulances, and customized vehicles.
In case you want to go Global, you can seek recruitment in top automobile companies of the world like BMW, Audi, Mercedes Benz, Renault, Volkswagen, Ford, and many other companies.
You can also have an opportunity to work in vendors associated with these automobile companies like Rane Steer, Bosch, Denso, Magna, Continental, MRF, Exide, Amaron to name a few.
You can also work in Online Portals like Cartrade, Autocar India, Cardekho, Carwale, Overdrive Top Gear, and so on.
Salary of an Automobile Engineer
At entry-level in automobile engineering, you get a stipend of Rs 20,000 to 30,000 during their training period. Later on the confirmation, their salary package ranges from Rs 3 lacs to 6 lacs per annum, An Automobile engineer with a Master’s degree and experience can earn more than Rs 100,000 per month. In the USA the average salary of an automobile engineer is about $64,000 per year.
The Future of Automobile Industry in India
With India moving towards becoming the third-largest market in passenger vehicles by 2021, the Automobile industry has a bright future in India. Rapid Urbanization, burgeoning consumer class, and a high growth rate are positive barometers for a high growth rate for the automobile industry in India. The favorable government policies will only help the automobile sector in the future.