In Automobile engineering, you will study fundamentals of basic sciences like Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics; basics of engineering sciences like Engineering Mechanics, Thermodynamics, Materials Science and technology, Strength of Materials and Engineering drawing. You will study basics of Electrical and Electronics Engineering as well as advanced topics in engineering like manufacturing process, process automation and control, production planning and control. You will also have to study subjects in mechanical engineering like mechanical measurement, fluid dynamics, machine drawing, manufacturing technology, heat transfer, machine design, Turbo machines, internal combustion engines, etc. You will study automotive machines, Automobile manufacturing technology, etc. You will learn Computer technologies and CAD/CAM.

Some colleges offering B.E/B. Tech in Automobile Engineering are:

Karnataka -

B.V. Bhoomraddi College Of Engineering & Technology,

Vidyanagar, Hubli-580 031

Malnad College Of Engineering,

P.B.No.21, Hassan-573 201

P.E.S. College Of Engineering

Mandya 571401

B.L.D.E.A College Of Engineering

Bijapur-586 103

Gurunanak Dev College Of Engineering

Mailur Road, Bidar-585 403

Nehru Samaraka Vidya Kendra

Trust, 7th Block, Jaya Nagar,Bangalore

Tami Nadu -

Anna University

Chennai 600 025

Sri Venkateswara College of Engineering

Post Bag No. 3, Pennalur, Sriperumbudur 602 105

Madras Institute Of Technology

Chromepet, Chennai Chengai MGR Dist. 600 044

Hindustan College Of Engineering

Old Mahabalipuram Road,Padur, Kelambakkam - 603 103.

P.S.G. College Of Technology,

Post Box No. 1611, Peelamedu, Coimbatore - 641 004

Sri Ram Engineering College

Vepampattu, Thiruvallur District

Course and living expenses per year, if you live in a hostel, would be about 75,000 90,000 a year.

After the course, you will mainly be employed in automobile manufacturing plants such as Maruti Udyog Ltd., Telco, Fiat, etc. Here you can be involved in any of the following duties:

Research, design, development and manufacture of vehicles

Manufacture of forgings and castings

Assembling

Vendor development and materials management

Marketing and sales

You can also get a job with a company involved in the auto ancillary manufacturing industry. These companies manufacture parts of automobiles and supply to the automobile manufacturing companies. Maintenance and servicing of automobiles are also a big industry in the world today. There are large-scale and specialised garages which offer good opportunities as supervisors. You can also work as surveyors for insurance companies provided you have a licence from the central government.

Starting salaries for automobile engineers are in the range of Rs 7,000-9,000 per month for degree holders and Rs 3,500-6,000 per month for diploma holders who are taken in as trainees. With around 5-7 years experience your pay packet salary will touch the Rs 16,000-30,000.

The slow down in the automobile industry worldwide has had its effect in the Indian automobile industry as well. But the growth has remained steady and is set to continue. Many multinationals like Daewoo, General Motors, Mercedes-Benz, Hyundai, and Fiat have entered the market and are offering state-of-the-art vehicles. Also the dismal number of models in India as compared to the west has been a boon for the customisation industry. So the prospects of a career in automobile engineering looks encouraging. Other new avenues that you can explore as an automobile engineer are vehicles running on alternative forms of fuel such as Propane, Methanol, Ethanol, Hydrogen and even electricity and solar power. Then there is the issue of passenger as well as pedestrian safety. These remain the challenges for the automobile engineers in the new century.