The Design Pavilion at the 10th Auto Expo is a treat for any one with a penchant for good design and concept cars. The 10th Auto Expo is being jointly organized by the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA), Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), and Society for Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) from January 5 to 11, 2010.

While this pavilion showcases vehicles designed by various vehicle design companies what is extremely encouraging is to see a large number of student teams from engineering colleges proudly displaying their concept cars. At least five student groups have on display vehicles designed and fabricated by them to compete with the best brains and best technologies in the world. These cars range from those that use principles of aero dynamics to All Terrain Vehicles.

The teams represent engineering colleges such as Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, Delhi College of Engineering, K J Somaiya College, Chitkara University and M H Saboo Siddik College of Engineering. The Design Pavilion is reflective of the increasing collaboration of the industry and academia to encourage students to apply their learnings as well as to develop an innovative mindset.

Product design, especially automotive design is slowly but surely becoming popular in India. What is making it prohibitive for the global players to establish their product design centers in India is the lack of availability of designers and the prohibitive costs of hiring good talent believe industry players. But the presence of design studios such as Dilip Chhabria Design Pvt Ltd and Dasmania Autostudio and that of training institutes such as Raffles Millennium from Singapore are reflective of the increasing emphasis on product styling. Dasmania Autostudio for instance offers services in conceptual design and contemporary styling for automobiles.

A number of other companies who are exhibiting at the Design Pavilion include BSA Motors, Ispat Industries and Society for Automotive Engineers (SAE) India. The automobile designers and engineers from India and overseas, especially from Italy and Germany are upbeat on the Indian consumers’ increasing interest in product style and design.