India is on the brink of a groundbreaking development in its automotive sector with the impending launch of the Indian School for Design of Automobiles (INDEA) by late 2025. Spearheaded by Xavier School of Management (XLRI) and renowned automotive expert Avik Chattopadhyay, this initiative aims to cultivate a new generation of automotive professionals equipped with cutting-edge skills and expertise.
JAMSHEDPUR – The landscape of the Indian automotive industry is poised for a significant evolution with the imminent establishment of the Indian School for Design of Automobiles (INDEA) by late 2025. In a pioneering collaboration, XLRI, one of India’s most esteemed business schools, and automotive luminary Avik Chattopadhyay are joining forces to inaugurate this specialized institution.
Set to be located at the XLRI Delhi-NCR campus, INDEA represents a crucial endeavor to bridge the existing gap in specialized automotive design education. The institute aims to nurture versatile professionals well-versed not only in design aesthetics but also in management and understanding consumer preferences.
INDEA will offer a one-year Master’s degree program in Automobile Design & Management, catering to a select cohort of 20-25 students from diverse academic backgrounds. The admission process will be rigorous, ensuring the enrollment of candidates with exceptional potential and aptitude.
The curriculum, currently in its finalization phase, is meticulously crafted to delve into the intricacies of automotive design while equipping students with the managerial acumen to lead design teams effectively. INDEA also plans to introduce refresher courses for practicing automotive designers seeking to enhance their skills, along with induction programs tailored for chief experience officers (CXOs). Furthermore, the institute is contemplating the introduction of a course on automotive restoration, reflecting its commitment to comprehensively cover various aspects of automotive design and management.
Chattopadhyay underscored the distinctive proposition of INDEA, highlighting its emphasis on hands-on experience and direct industry exposure for students. This sets it apart from conventional institutions where automotive design often constitutes just one facet of a broader curriculum, necessitating significant learning and unlearning for industry entrants.
Dr. Fr K S Casimir, director of the XLRI Delhi-NCR campus, emphasized the pivotal role of creativity, innovation, and originality in education and the broader national agenda. He envisions management education infused with a spirit of creativity, potentially catalyzing breakthroughs that could propel the country towards superpower status. He remarked, “Creativity, innovation, and originality will ensure that a country leapfrogs to that superpower status. We want to imbue the entire management education with a kind of spirit where we are able to even blunder into creativity.”
Institute Highlights
The establishment of INDEA signifies the collaborative vision of XLRI and Chattopadhyay, setting a new standard for industry-oriented programs in India’s automotive sector.
National Context
While institutions such as the National Institute of Design and the Indian Institutes of Technology offer programs related to automotive design, INDEA will emerge as India’s inaugural dedicated institute for automobile design, addressing the acute need for specialized designers within the industry.