More than 450 students from over 70 design institutes participated, with Team IED Torino winning the competition and the top three teams securing internships.
Maruti Suzuki India Limited has concluded the second edition of its flagship automotive design competition, DesignXathon 2026, which attracted participation from more than 450 students representing over 70 leading design institutes in India and overseas. The competition challenged young designers to envision an iconic vehicle that Gen Z and Gen Alpha would aspire to own in 2036.
Team IED Torino emerged as the winner, while the first and second runner-up positions were secured by teams from the National Institute of Design (NID), Gandhinagar. The top three teams received cash prizes along with six-month internship opportunities at Maruti Suzuki’s India Design Studio.
Finalists Present 1:8-Scale Vehicle Prototypes
Following multiple rounds of evaluation and mentorship from the company’s Design Studio team, the top 10 teams advanced to the grand finale. The finalists presented their design concepts through 1:8-scale prototypes at an event held at Maruti Suzuki’s India Design Studio in Gurugram.
The competition provided students with an opportunity to explore future mobility requirements and develop vehicle concepts around the aspirations of younger generations. Participants were encouraged to consider changing customer lifestyles, automotive technology and sustainability while imagining what an aspirational vehicle could look like in 2036.
Apart from the top three teams, participants ranked fourth to tenth will also be considered for internship opportunities at Maruti Suzuki, subject to further evaluation.
Maruti Suzuki Highlights Role Of Young Design Talent
Commenting on the conclusion of DesignXathon 2026, Hisashi Takeuchi, Managing Director and CEO of Maruti Suzuki India Limited, highlighted the importance of fresh perspectives and unconventional thinking in shaping the future of mobility.
He noted that customer aspirations, lifestyles and automotive technologies are evolving, creating opportunities for young designers to contribute to the industry’s development. He also emphasised India’s creative potential as the world’s third-largest passenger vehicle market.
According to the company, DesignXathon is intended to connect emerging design talent with the automotive industry while encouraging open innovation and collaboration. The competition also aims to give students exposure to professional design practices and real-world industry scenarios.
DesignXathon Aims To Build India’s Automotive Design Ecosystem
Maruti Suzuki organises DesignXathon annually as part of its efforts to strengthen collaboration between industry and academic institutions. The initiative is designed to nurture emerging automotive designers and help the company stay connected with changing customer expectations in a rapidly transforming mobility landscape.
The second edition saw participation from institutions in India and overseas, reflecting the competition’s wider reach. By offering mentorship, prototype development opportunities and potential internships, the programme seeks to create a stronger link between young creative talent and professional automotive design.
The company believes initiatives such as DesignXathon can contribute to building a robust vehicle design ecosystem in India, while giving students a platform to translate their ideas into concepts relevant to future mobility.
