Future of Indian Automotive Styling

The 19th SIAM Design Conclave highlighted emerging design talent, uniting industry experts and students to address evolving trends in automotive styling and technology.

- writes Richa Tyagi

The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) recently hosted the 19th SIAM Styling & Design Conclave alongside the 17th Automotive Design Challenge (ADC). Centred around the theme "Innovating Today, Inspiring Tomorrow's Mobility," the conclave explored the rapidly evolving world of vehicle styling and design. It provided a dynamic platform for leading automotive designers, industry experts, and academicians to envision the future of mobility and reimagine automotive aesthetics.

In his opening address at the, Prashant K. Banerjee, Executive Director, SIAM, spoke about the critical role of design in shaping the future of mobility. He remarked, “As we stand at the cusp of a time when mobility is transforming with various powertrain disruptions, automotive design and styling have never had a greater opportunity to innovate. Today, Indian design aspirations are poised for takeoff, and the world is set to experience the next level of Indian automotive design innovation. The dream of Viksit Bharat cannot be fully realised until students’ design talent and innovation are brought to the industrial level, and SIAM is committed to undertaking initiatives that will spotlight next-gen ideas.”

Delivering the keynote address, Teofilo Plaza Garcia, Industrial Studio Head at Hero MotoCorp, highlighted the dual purpose of design: “We must move people sustainably, but we must also move them emotionally. It was once believed that competing in motorsports required importing expensive, heavy-capability vehicles. Today, we are changing that belief with our affordable, well-designed, and highly functional machines. To compete at the global level, we have to start investing in the young talent so that the Heroes of tomorrow are riding today.”