The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) organised the 20th SIAM Styling & Design Conclave alongside the 18th Automotive Design Challenge (ADC) in Goa, under the theme “Collaborative Creativity: Building India’s Mobility Design Ecosystem.”
The conclave brought together leading automobile designers, industry experts and academicians to deliberate on the evolving role of automotive styling and design, shifting consumer expectations, and the increasing significance of aesthetics, form and holistic vehicle experience across mobility segments.
Reinforcing SIAM’s continued focus on strengthening India’s automotive design ecosystem, discussions emphasised the need for deeper collaboration between industry, academia and the design community to build world-class design capabilities in the country.
On the occasion, SIAM also launched a White Paper titled “Evolution of Automotive Design in India,” outlining the journey, current trends and future direction of vehicle design in the Indian automotive industry.
The Automotive Design Challenge (ADC) once again served as a platform for nurturing young talent, enabling aspiring designers to showcase innovative design concepts aligned with future mobility needs. This edition of ADC saw participation from 53 students representing various design colleges across India.
In his inaugural address, Mr Prashant K Banerjee, Executive Director, SIAM, said that, “Meaningful mobility solutions emerge from the confluence of sustainability, desirability, and affordability. These three essential pillars that must work together to address local needs while aligning with evolving environmental priorities.”
Mr G Sathiyaseelan, Chairman, SIAM Styling & Design Group & Design Director, Ashok Leyland, said, “Understanding user experience must go beyond acknowledging problem areas and be rooted in empathy and a solution-driven mindset, with a clear focus on enabling gender-sensitive transportation and strengthening last-mile connectivity to create truly inclusive mobility solutions.”
On this occasion, Mr Andreas Kurbos, Founder & CEO, StudioKurbos GMBH, said, “As design continues to evolve globally, India’s story can achieve stronger resonance by drawing from its rich culture and legacy. With design tools becoming increasingly democratised, identity becomes a powerful differentiator, making it essential to deeply understand audiences and co-create distinctive user experiences, while strengthening design education to shape the future of design.”
Mr Saurabh Singh, Co-Chairman, SIAM Styling & Design Group & Senior Vice President (Design & Modeling), Maruti Suzuki India Ltd., added, “Shaping India through thought-provoking and emotionally engaging dialogue is essential to spark deeper conversations and meaningful action, and the country must set its sights on a bolder, more ambitious vision for its automotive future.”
During the first session of the conclave, Mr Rajesh Gogu, Vice President – Design, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd., along with industry leaders including Mr P. Sanjeev, Founder & CEO, E3 Electric; Ms Shweta Kulkarni, India & Asia Pacific Lead (Polymer & Bio-Sourced), Stellantis; Mr Debidutt Gharai, Group Manager, Royal Enfield; and Dr Vinay Kumar Kaushik, General Manager, Mankiewicz, shared insights on the evolving role of automotive styling and design. The session focused on integrating aesthetics with functionality, material innovation, sustainability, and design-led differentiation in meeting changing customer expectations.
In the second session, industry and design leaders shared perspectives on next-generation automotive styling and design. Speakers included Mr Ajay Jain, Head of India Design Studio, Tata Motors Ltd.; Mr Ferdinand Klauser, Global Partner & Managing Director Asia, Kiska; Mr Dinesh Raman, Design Director, Kiska; Mr Shashwath Bolar, Head of Design, Greaves Electric Mobility; and Mr Sandeep Varma, Co-Founder, Studio 34. The session highlighted innovation, creative thinking, and emerging trends shaping the future of vehicle design.
The third session, a panel discussion on “Inculcating Design Thinking for Creative Solutions,” emphasized the importance of embedding design thinking into automotive development, encouraging creative problem-solving, and fostering collaboration between industry and academia to drive innovative mobility solutions. The session was moderated by Mr Anuj Prasad, CEO, Desmania. The discussion saw participation from Prof. Thomas Dal, Director-Dean, Strate School of Design; Mr Harish CB, Faculty, Srishti Manipal Institute of Art, Design and Technology; Mr G. Sathiyaseelan, Chairman, SIAM Styling & Design Group & Design Director, Ashok Leyland Ltd.; Mr Saurabh Singh, Co-Chairman, SIAM Styling & Design Group & Senior Vice President (Design & Modeling), Maruti Suzuki India Ltd.; and Mr Teofilo Plaza Garcia, Head – Industrial Design Studio, Hero MotoCorp.
The Final round evaluation of ADC was also held during the conclave where the Top-10 students were felicitated , celebrating the top performers from a fierce and creative competition. Mr Chanakya Asangi from Starte School of Design was announced as the 2nd Runner-up, Mr Aman Mujawar from IIT Delhi was the 1st Runner-up and Mr Akshit Salunkhe, Ajeenkya DY Patil University was the 1st Prize winner of ADC.
The conclave concluded with an interactive session organsied between Design Students and Design Professionals.
