Demand for automobile engineers is always high as importance for motor vehicle production and maintenance has grown over the years with the increasing number of public transport vehicles, private transport vehicles and commercial transport vehicles. Automobile engineers design, develop, manufacture, test and repair and provide servicing to a variety of vehicles like cars, trucks, motorcycles, scooters and any other related engineering systems. So, to become a proficient automobile engineer, it is essential to learn designing, developing, and manufacturing and testing of vehicles from fundamentals till product manufacture as the main functions of an automobile engineer are car designing, designing of engines, and fuel management.

Eligibility Criteria

To study automobile engineering, a student needs to complete 10+2 with science, with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics as main subjects and secure at least 60 percent marks in order to get admission in good universities/colleges. The student also needs to qualify in engineering competitive examinations like JEE Mains/Advance, BITSAT, BSAUEEE, EAMCET, and other entrance examinations.

Syllabus

The syllabus of automobile engineering is designed in such a way that students learn theoretical subjects to its brim and gain incomparable practical skills. Some of the main subjects that are covered in the syllabus are engine systems, electronics and control systems, fluid mechanics, engineering thermodynamics, aerodynamics, mechanism of vehicle chassis, internal combustion engine, and electrical systems. In a duration of a 4 year, the students study subjects like engineering thermodynamics, manufacturing technology, strength of materials, design of machine elements, automotive transmission, automotive electrical and electronics, automotive fuels and lubricants, automotive engine components design, vehicle dynamics, vehicle maintenance, and vehicle body engineering.

Career Prospect

After completing bachelor’s degree in automobile engineering, graduates get offers from automobile manufacturing industries, production plants, service stations, state road transport corporations, private transport companies, insurance companies, and motor vehicle departments. Students graduating with computer knowledge in CAD (computer aided design), CAM (Automation), and ERP can find employment opportunities in automobile industry as designers, as the industry demands skilled designers to design vehicles and in the research and development part. Some of the reputed companies like Maruti Suzuki and Honda pay a monthly salary of 45k, and 83k respectively, whereas Volkswagen pays 9lpa.

In workshops, factories and garages, automobile engineers are offered the position of general supervision of mechanics, B.Tech holders in this branch work with the tags of Automobile Engineering Technicians, Safety Engineering, Emissions Research, NVH (Noise, Vibration, and Harshness) Engineers, Performance Engineer, Vehicle Dynamics Controller, and Operations Research.

Often, students also pursue higher education and opt for an MBA degree in marketing management, or go for master’s degree in automobile engineering, upon completion of which they become eligible to work in the main part of the automobile engineering industry – research and development section and come up with innovative solutions and products.

Also, candidates with master’s degree and teaching experience of 5 years in graduate level, or candidates with industrial experience in a renowned company can become lecturers of a good private or government aided institute.

Students with high ambitions can also opt for PhD degree in this branch and work as automobile engineering scientists to help the sector increase its horizon of innovative production.