Automobile engineering

What is Automobile Engineering? & It’s Eligibility, Syllabus, Courses, Top Institutes & Jobs

What is Automobile Engineering?

Automobile Engineering is a branch of vehicle engineering that deals with designing, developing, manufacturing, testing, repairing, servicing motor vehicles, etc. that relate to sub-engineering systems. With the rapid growth of auto component manufacturers and automobile industries, the demand for these engineers has constantly risen. Automobile engineering has gained recognition since motor vehicles became capable of transporting goods and passengers worldwide. These automobile engineers work within a range of roles in the manufacture of vehicles from the conceptual phase to the production phase. It consists of a perfect blend of different elements of engineering such as electronic, mechanical, software and safety engineering, electrical.

Automobile Engineering otherwise called Automotive or Vehicle engineering has many areas of specializations like thermodynamics, aerodynamics, fluid mechanics, supply chain management, engine systems, electronics and control systems, etc. This field of applied sciences deals with the direct application of mathematical formulas and models and requires intensive research systems. The domain of an automobile engineer is the creation and assembling of different parts of vehicles. To become proficient in this field of discipline, one needs a lot of hard work, determination, dedication, and commitment. The three main tasks of an automotive engineer are production, development, and manufacturing of vehicles form the concept stage to the final stage.

Examinations for Automobile Engineering

Automobile Engineering has become one of the most challenging careers in the field of engineering with a worldwide scope of opportunities. Some of the centralized examinations held for the automotive aspirants are as follows:

  • JEE (Joint Entrance Examination) – For undergraduate courses like B.E. (Bachelor of Engineering) and B.Tech (Bachelors of Technology)
  • CEE (University of Delhi Combined Entrance Examination)
  • BITSAT (Birla Institute of Technology and Science Admission Test) – For all BITS Pilani campuses
  • AMIE(Associate Member of Institution of Engineers) – For diploma courses in automobile engineering
  • GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering) – For Post-graduation degree (M.E. / M.Tech) in this field
  • SRMJEEE (SRM Joint Entrance Examination-Engineering)
  • Individual examinations conducted by the deemed universities of the country like Amity University, Manipal University, Punjab University, VIT, etc.

Eligibility for Automobile Engineering

Automobile Engineering is a full-time graduate course of four years divided into 8 semesters. This course familiarises the students with all the technologies involved in the field of production and the working of all types of automobiles and their components. The eligibility for getting admitted to an automobile engineering is discussed below.

Undergraduate courses

  • For B.Tech and B.E., the required criteria is 10+2 with intermediate in Science stream with a minimum of 50% marks from the recognized board
  • To qualify the centralized examinations one should score above 60% or rank up to the notified standards
  • Some private universities also grant admissions based on merit ranking and percentage aggregate

Post-graduate courses

  • 10+2 completed from a Science stream with an aggregate of 50% in the science subjects 
  • A Bachelor’s degree in Automobile Engineering securing good grades from a certified university
  • A few colleges also ask for an internship certificate as a course routine. Thus, students are advised to take up a professional training program from any company or an institute to have an upper hand over others

Diploma courses

  • A candidate can take up this course after completing class 10
  • Diploma holders are permitted to take admissions in the second year of the technical programs
  • Post-graduate diploma degree can be taken up after completing the three-year diploma course

Syllabus for Automobile Engineering

The youth of today is inclined towards automobiles and are ready to allocate their time in gaining deep knowledge and skills of the modern-day technologies. The curriculum for qualifying Automobile Engineering comprises of subjects like:

  • Engineering Thermodynamics
  • Industrial Engineering
  • Entrepreneurship and E-business
  • Fluid Mechanics and Machinery
  • Automotive Petrol Engines
  • Strength of Materials
  • Manufacturing Methods
  • Automotive Chassis
  • Engineering Analysis and Numerical Methods
  • Automotive Design Engines
  • Power Units and Transmission
  • Robotics and Robot Application
  • Vehicle Dynamics
  • Ethics in Engineering and Transport Management
  • Modern Vehicle Technology
  • Vehicle Body Engineering
  • Heat Transfer and Combustion
  • Automotive Pollution and Control
  • Automotive Electrical Systems and Electronics
  • Non-destructive Testing Methods
  • Alternative Fuels and Energy Systems
  • Quality Control and Reliability Engineering
  • Off-road Vehicles
  • Material Science and Technology
  • Operations Research and Industrial Management

Courses available in Automobile Engineering

The courses as furnished by the deemed colleges and universities for Automobile Engineering aspirants are as follows:

  • B.E. – Bachelor of Engineering is an undergraduate course of four-years that helps the students to learn to produce innovative vehicles for the coming generations 
  • B.Tech – Bachelor of Technology is also an undergraduate program for the students of automotive engineering to design and manufacture complete vehicles 
  • M.Tech – Master of Technology is a post-graduate degree of complete two-years offered to the scholars who aim to have their future in the field of the automobile industry
  • Dual Courses – To be an organized engineer, one can take up integrated dual courses in the field of vehicles. It is generally a course of six years including a diploma course and an undergraduate course (B.Tech or B.E.)

Institutes for Automobile Engineering

India is an economically developing nation that is coming up with several universities offering studies in Automobile Engineering. Some of them are mentioned below:

  • IIT Delhi
  • IIT Roorkee
  • SRM University, Chennai
  • Sathyabama University, Chennai
  • PSG College of Technology, Coimbatore
  • Madras Institute of Technology, Chennai
  • Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal
  • Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute (VJTI), Mumbai
  • SCMS School of Engineering and Technology (SSET), Cochin
  • Hindustan Institute of Engineering Technology (HIET), Chennai

Job Opportunities in Automobile Engineering

This field has great job prospects due to the rapid growth of industrialization. Some of the fields are listed below:

  • Design Engineers
  • Safety Engineers
  • Sales Officers
  • Automobile Engineers
  • Professors
  • Scientists and Researchers
  • Emission Researchers
  • Vehicles Dynamics Controller
  • Performance Engineers
  • Product Development Engineers
  • NVH (Noise, Volume, and Harshness) Engineers
  • AET (Automobile Engineering Technician)

Popular and reputed companies that hire automobile engineers are:

  • Maruti Suzuki India Ltd.
  • Hyundai Motor Company Ltd.
  • TVS Motor Company Ltd.
  • TATA Motors Ltd.
  • Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd.
  • Bajaj Auto Ltd.
  • Ashok Leyland LTD.
  • Eicher Motors Ltd.
  • Hero MotoCorp Ltd.
  • Force Motors Ltd.

FAQs about Automobile Engineering

Q1. Which colleges offer Diploma courses in automobile engineering?

Colleges that offer three-year diploma courses are:

  • LPU, Chandigarh
  • GLA University, Mathura
  • Integral University, Lucknow
  • Rai University, Ahmedabad

Q2. What is the basic fee structure to pursue an automobile engineering course in India?

The fee structure of the colleges may differ from a private university to a government or state university. The average fee structure (for all the semesters) may be defined as follows:

  • Private Universities – INR 8-12 lakhs 
  • Government Universities – INR 4-10 lakhs 

Q3. What is the salary offered to an automobile engineer?

An automobile engineer as a freshman can get up INR 6 Lakh each year. A scholar with a master’s degree can be paid up to INR 10 Lakh each year and a person outside India may get a salary of $65k per annum in an MNC.

Q4. Which are the engineering courses that can be taken up as a career?

Some of the courses are:

  • Civil Engineering
  • Chemical Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Petroleum Engineering
  • Automobile Engineering

Q5. What is the prime difference between B.E. AND B.Tech in engineering?

B.E. or Bachelors in Engineering is a branch of engineering dealing with the theoretical knowledge related to gadgets and equipment. B. Tech i.e. Bachelors of Technology, on the other hand, emphasizes the practical application of the learned skills.

Written by
Mahima Misra
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