[Radiator]

Greetings everyone,
I am currently in a huge dilemma regarding my future. I am very passionate about automobiles and how they work and want to pursue Automobile Engineering(AE) for my Bachelor's degree from a decent private college.

But, my parents are sceptical regarding the 'scope' in AE. They say that electric cars will make IC cars completely obsolete hence requirement for an Automobile Engineer will be second to none.Their recommendation is Mechanical engineering.

So if anyone from the industry could clear my doubt regarding future in AE, I would be extremely grateful.

P.S.- I want to save the IC engine from dying.

[Shreyans_Jain]

The automobile engineering degree in itself is not going to get you anywhere. It is however a stepping stone to specialisation in other related subjects for your masters, for which you’ll most likely have to go abroad. If your passion is the designing part, you are looking the wrong way. For that, there are specialised automobile design courses offered by elite institutions like NID Ahmedabad. Otherwise, again, go abroad.

As for the electric vs ICE debate, it is a fact that the internal combustion engine is not going extinct, not at least in our lifetimes. It’s application in private cars will certainly get very limited in another decade or two. So you have to be very very good in your field, as the scope in this area will only reduce with time.

[Shreyas Agarwal]

Brother, I am in the same boat. Right now, I am pursuing Class 11 from CMS Gomti Nagar. I did a lot of googling and came to the conclusion that Mechanical Engineering is a much better option than Automobile Engineering in the long run as even automobile companies prefer mechanical engineers to automobile ones, and with such drastic changes in the industry automobile engineers won't be able to cope up.

Second conclusion is that there is hardly any scope for even Mechanical Engineering in India, especially in the automobile industry as barely any companies have any R&D centres in India and their packages are pretty grim. You would soon need an MBA for decent packages or would need to shift abroad if you want to work in the auto industry only with decent money.

The only people who live a decent life in India after a Mechanical Engineering major in India are those who are inducted through the ESE into IRSME, IRSSE and IDSE etc. (Aka Sarkaari Naukri) or ones who diversify into other sectors.

PS: This is what I could gather. Maybe I am wrong. So please don't bash me. I myself am a class 11 student. Any guidance from experienced members is helpful.

[Guna]

Making a career in Automotive Engineering is not going to be as smooth as in, say, computer science, especially in India. If you are really passionate and believe you can be exceptional, pursue it.

[Eshan Joshi]

Hey, I don't think you should pursue Automobile Engineering. One of my cousin is one and had a rough time to get a job. I think you should go for something more secure. At the end it's your call.

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[the_skyliner]

OP: Your parents are right. Mechanical engineering will give you more options for employment as well as higher studies. AE is basically 80% based on mechanical engineering fundamentals and only 20% is automobile study which is also kind of outdated.

[ishan12]

Listen to your parents, they are absolutely correct.
I will not go into the IC vs electric debate, as only time will tell how fast the world adapts.
However, as someone who has gone through the same phase (B.E 2011 Batch, MBA 2015 Batch and currently working in IT), I can suggest you to to go for Mechanical engineering from a reputed institute and then if you still want to follow your passion you have below options.

1. Work toward getting into a foreign university and specialize in Automotive or related and have your masters (M.S).

2. If you are interested in the business/ sales/ marketing side of things, crack CAT or other similar exams, get into a premier B School (India/ Abroad) and look for jobs in auto industry. (Crack any institute in the top 10 and you will very much have the job you want)

2. Opt for a job/ search for a job in the auto industry right after your B.E, work for a couple of years and then look at the above two options again. (By then you will have a better idea about what exactly you want to do)

I would however strongly suggest you not to stop your education at B.E.

Hope this is helpful and wish you a great career ahead and all the success you deserve!

[Senna4Ever]

Let me share my thoughts here as a recent Automobile Engineering graduate (2017). I studied at a large private university in Chennai.

Undergraduate automobile engineering courses in India are inadequate and lag far behind what is required in the global automotive industry. The only way one can learn real engineering and gain exposure is by getting involved in student projects and competitions like Formula Student or Baja. These projects also help in developing crucial soft skills which are much more important in the professional world.

As for the 'scope' as our elders call it, there is a lot of scope, but not in India. The mainstream industry in India specializes in reverse engineering and cost-cutting, in addition to the poor work culture at most Indian firms. Ofcourse, it is not all the same. For example, if you get into an OEM or a German Tier-1, things would be much better. Another silver lining is the rising number of start-ups made up of mostly young people who are changing this and actually trying to engineer new vehicles and technologies.

If you see yourself as an automotive engineer in the future, the ideal path would be to ulltimately get a Masters degree abroad. If you are open to it, you can even look into Bachelors programs abroad.

Another suggestion is that whatever you study, mechanical or automobile, do not restrict yourself to the traditional engineering subjects in the curriculum. If the university allows it, choose electives in computer science/electrical engineering.

The industry is moving towards electrification and connectivity, not just in powertrain but also in other vehicle systems. So it would be beneficial to have some understanding of automotive electronics/computers.

Also, do not think that 'Automobile Engineering' only means powertrain and that it is all EV vs ICE. An EV is still a car and requires a chassis, brakes, suspension and steering systems. There are huge developments happening in all these areas. Therefore, there is a huge 'scope'. Not to forget commercial vehicles and two-wheelers, which are huge industries in themselves.

To conclude, I willl just say that it doesn't make that much of a difference if you study Mechanical or Automobile engineering. Both these streams can lead you to a career in Automotive engineering, but only if you make some extra efforts during your studies. Choice of college also matters to an extent. If you wish to work in India after your studies, it would be wiser to study Mechanical from a decently-reputed university.

Originally Posted by Eshan Joshi

Hey, I don't think you should pursue Automobile Engineering. One of my cousin is one and had a rough time to get a job. I think you should go for something more secure. At the end it's your call.

No offence to your cousin, but I would advise against giving such blanket statements based on one person's experience, that are not even your own. Thousands of talented people have made excellent careers after studying Automotive engineering.

[revsperminute]

Originally Posted by Radiator

Greetings everyone,
I am currently in a huge dilemma regarding my future. I am very passionate about automobiles and how they work and want to pursue Automobile Engineering(AE) for my Bachelor's degree from a decent private college.

But, my parents are sceptical regarding the 'scope' in AE. They say that electric cars will make IC cars completely obsolete hence requirement for an Automobile Engineer will be second to none.Their recommendation is Mechanical engineering.

So if anyone from the industry could clear my doubt regarding future in AE, I would be extremely grateful.

P.S.- I want to save the IC engine from dying.

Wow! It's like looking in a mirror. I've always dreamt of working in the automotive industry. Everything was going according to plan until a few years ago. To me, cars are not just a machine, it's an emotion. In the past 2 years, I've seen a massive change in the automotive industry. Millennials are no longer interested in owning a car, subscription services and ride sharing is much more in demand. Talking about home sweet home, the generation prior to ours viewed owning a car as an achievement which is not the case with us. In fact, in the not too distant future, it'll be a rare thing to see a privately owned car. Now coming onto IC engines, that topic is doomed. With the advancement in battery and propulsion technology, EVs are going to take over. Coming to AE or ME, they are a dime a dozen in India. Even if one is very passionate about what he wants to do, one has to face a massive competition to do that. I'm gonna appear for all the entrance examinations too but I think you should also look for some alternatives or find a niche part of the automobile industry to work in. I'm currently considering commercial aviation as a career choice.

[Turbohead]

Hey radiator!

I just completed my bachelor's in mechanical last year and am currently working in the IT sector. So here's my background:

1) Participated in two seasons of SAE SUPRA- a formula car design competition. Was in the top 15 teams out of some 120 odd teams from across India.
2) Did many internships and workshops
3) Worked in a mechanical industry for 5 months.

At the end of it all, I realised I didn't like to get my hands greasy and really didn't enjoy it as much as designing and FEA analysis. But I also realised that to design something properly, you really need to know the nuances in the current design which you'll only understand when you get your hands dirty! Besides, it was really boring apart from low pay.

From what I observed:
1) A mechanical degree/ knowledge on its own is useless today. Knowing multiple domains like computer science, electronics will give a huge boost to your CV. Easier said than done!

2) I'm a hard-core petrol head! Love driving and have even represented Chennai in Mahindra auto quiz. But that didn't mean that I would enjoy the actual work so much. So if you get a chance, please try doing something in a car workshop etc which will really open your eyes on how cars are made apart from understanding whether you will like these kind of jobs!

If you really wanna work in top companies, you'll have to be in the top institutes or study abroad in good colleges. I studied in a not so popular college and I can say that classroom sessions are absolutely useless. I learnt stuff only outside the classroom and in projects.

I hope I haven't discouraged you! Good luck! Wishing you success!

[audioholic]

Studying Automobile engineering in India is like trying to become a jack of all, master of none in the automotive world. No offense to any Automobile engineers here. The syllabus of AE courses in India is not so focused and can only give a base knowledge of what is what since they want to cover everything from mechanical topics, electronics and management topics. If a masters degree is the intended target, then it is ok to do a bachelors in AE as a foundation and then specialize in a certain topic. If employment is the goal, at least for the immediate time being after the bachelors degree, then I would suggest to pursue mechanical or electronics engineering.

Specialization by doing masters requires more dedication and effort compared to passing a bachelors degree, and one must be really serious about it if they want to reap the benefits. Also, masters must be preferably done in a favorable environment like Europe so that employment opportunities are also good. Hence, its better to decide the long term goals before you embark on an engineering field.

A bachelors in CS or EC will give you better opportunities straight out of college than Mechanical or Automobile. That doesnt mean that doing EC and CS will shut you out of the Automobile world. You might find better opportunities in trending topics like Electric Vehicles, Autonomous driving, Connected cars and so on being a programmer or an embedded electronics engineer than trying to get into mechanical design, engine and powertrain and so. I am not an education expert in any manner, and barely passed a degree in Electronics and communication from an above average college in Bangalore. But based on my experience, I can tell you the following things:

• First and foremost, do a self analysis of your interests, strengths and weaknesses. Keep passion aside. Go through the subjects offered in each branch of engineering and evaluate your aptitude for the same. Decide which suits your strengths the best and which might pose risky.
• Second, decide your long term goals. Do you have a great track record in studies and would want to go non stop till a Masters degree or a PhD, or is a bachelors enough. Like I said earlier, I personally decided I am not a Masters candidate and was focused on starting off a career after my Bachelors. I trusted my practical abilities more than theory and just could not go to the point of specialization. This might not be the case with all, but also consider financial implications.
• Based on the above two points, zero in on the course and subject you would like to pursue. Focus on maintaining a good track record irrespective of what you start off. Just because you are passionate about something, does not necessarily mean that will take you to places at least in professional life. Though there are exceptions, this is not the norm. I have had my friends rejected in the first round of interviews just because they did not meet the minimum criterion in terms of scores, though some of them were really talented. They did find their own ways later, but it was not a cakewalk for sure.
• Along with studies, concentrate on some internships and here is where you can blend in your passion and contribute something good and gain some good insights into the industry you want to be in. Some projects and DIY activities will definitely help too.
• If you are looking for immediate employment after your Bachelors, dont always try to mix your passion and profession. If that happens, well and good but you should not make choices based on that.
• When I say your passion and profession need not be mixed, it also means that if your profession is such that it will allow you to pursue your passion, thats a better combination than just working for the automotive sector just because you are passionate about it. We have doctors who are great automobile enthusiasts, and a lot of such examples.
• Employment in the automobile sector need not always mean the job will be interesting. It might turn out to be very monotonous and you might eventually get bored of it.

Hence, please consider all these points carefully and then make a move. Do not settle for automobile engineering just because you are passionate about it. To give you my own example, I am an electronics and communication engineer. Yet, I work for a highly trending topic in one of the biggest auto brands in the industry. I landed into this job right after engineering, but after a lot of competition during recruitment. Finally my passion did help me get an edge, but no one will bypass the fundamentals like coding skills, logical reasoning, communication etc in lieu of passion. In my immediate work environment, I do not have a single automobile engineer as a colleague. They are all EC/CS engineers. Why? Because what we do at work is develop software that runs in the vehicle and controls the vehicle. Modern cars are more of electronics and software compared to mechanics. I hope this clarifies the dilemma of pursuing Automobile engineering in today's context.

[warrioraks]

The biggest trend in industry today is convergence because of technology. I would not suggest going for a specialised field like automobile engineering unless you are super passionate and can’t think of doing anything else.

[Thermodynamics]

I am very afraid of giving career suggestions because it can make or break one's life.

My only advice is pursue your heart in the direction that inspires you the most. In case you are unsure, take a generic subject and you can specialize later based on future interests.

Believe me, 80% of my core engineering classmates eventually ended up in software jobs. Those who stood back such as myself aren't earning as much as them but there is a satisfaction in doing things that we like.

[GTO]

I did a 2-year MBA in Marketing. Reason, with that degree, I could run any business. Since, I have been part of 3 industries & have done alright (cars, education, property). My MBA equipped me with skills for life.

I feel one must choose a degree which allows them a variety of career options upon graduation. Of course, there are many exceptions to this rule and (as an example), if someone wants to become a CA or Fashion Designer, then study that only. Both those industries are strong.

With mechanical engineering, you can still get into the auto industry...and a whole lot of others too. But with auto engineering, your options will be limited.

However, the main reason I'd tell you to pick mechanical is the limited number of A+ auto engineering courses in India.

Originally Posted by Radiator

P.S.- I want to save the IC engine from dying.

That's not up to you . It's the market / customers who decide what engine to save and which to kill. The customer dictates.

You could buy some nice cars with the sweetest IC engines for your garage instead .

[saket77]

We are at a cusp of big change in terms of automobile philosophy. We are not yet sure if the next big thing is a true hybrid or fully electric or any alternate fuel engine like hydrogen. Automobile engineering with the current curriculum in my view is a big gamble.

I am not an engineer (finance and engineering don't go hand in hand ) but I feel that if you are interested in auto engineering, either opt for mechanical or electronics. Both have a huge potential to lead you to a nice job with the automobile industry. Mechanical as we can relate obviously, but electronics have a very good scope even in current situation. Modern cars, be it ICE/ Hybrid/ EV are coming loaded with electronic assistance like ABS, ECU, advanced fuel management system, traction control, stability control, and what not. In my view, it is safer to opt for such streams as India is still not a place where most of the freshers can be choosers when looking for a job.

Regards,
Saket