Can you design a car for Gen Z and Alpha?

The Essentials

• Maruti Suzuki is seeking futuristic vehicle concepts from design students across India.
• The prize pool reaches ₹4,50,000 alongside a 6-month internship for the top three teams.
• Shortlisted participants get direct mentorship from professional automotive designers.

The Pulse

DesignXathon 2026 is now open for entries, challenging students to envision what Gen Z and Alpha will want to drive in 2036. This is not just about drawing a pretty car; it is about figuring out how technology and sustainability fit into the lives of teenagers ten years from now.

If you are a student at a design institute in India, this is arguably the most direct path into the local automotive industry. Most internships are hard to land, but this competition puts your work directly in front of the brand’s top leadership.

The evaluation looks at everything from vehicle category to how well the design connects with the lifestyle of future customers. It is a high-stakes way to build a portfolio that actually carries weight in Bengaluru or New Delhi studios.

The Snapshot

The Big Picture

India is no longer just a manufacturing hub; it is becoming a critical design centre for global carmakers. While companies like Mahindra and Tata Motors have significantly improved their design language, Maruti Suzuki is using this competition to ensure they do not lose the younger demographic. By engaging students now, they are effectively finding the future of Indian mobility. It mirrors global trends where heritage brands look to “digital natives” to solve the puzzle of what comes after the traditional SUV.

The India Prospective

For a design student in India, the ₹4,50,000 prize is a significant boost, but the real value is the six-month internship. Landing a role at Maruti Suzuki usually involves rigorous campus placements. This bypasses that entirely. Given that the brand dominates nearly 40% of the Indian car market, having this on a CV is the equivalent of a golden ticket for any budding industrial designer.

The Inside Intel

The inaugural edition in 2025 saw entries from 70 different design schools, including MIT Institute of Design and Strate School of Design. Currently, eight students from that first batch are already working within the Maruti Suzuki design team. This is not a PR exercise; it is a genuine recruitment pipeline for their studio.

The UDHQ. Take

Unbox Daily HQ. views this as a mandatory entry for any serious design student in the country. The cash is a nice bonus, but the professional mentorship from industry veterans is where the real value lies. If you have a friend or a sibling currently sketching car concepts in their dorm room, send them this link immediately. It is the most legitimate shortcut to a career in the Indian automotive space right now.

Best for: Design students in India who want to skip the traditional placement queue.

Who Is This For: Perfect for 18 to 24 year old design students in India who are building a portfolio in industrial or automotive design.

The Checkout

Maruti Suzuki DesignXathon 2026 -India Page

The Source

Maruti Suzuki India