XLRI Delhi-NCR has established a strategic partnership with ATS India to create the Indian School for Design of Automobiles (INDEA), the nation’s first dedicated school for automobile design and management. Under this Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), ATS India will handle the design, setup, and commissioning of a design studio and prototyping facility, solidifying INDEA’s pioneering role in automotive education.
INDEA
INDEA operates under the XLRI Centre for Automobile Design & Management (XADM). This collaboration marks a significant milestone as the school begins to take shape. The MoU was signed by Avik Chattopadhyay, Chairperson of XADM and Founder of INDEA, and S. Ramanathan, Managing Director of ATS India. As part of the agreement, ATS will be responsible for specifying necessary software, hardware, servers, equipment, and civil infrastructure, including electricity and water supply.
The MoU also includes selecting top-tier vendors and partners and securing long-term maintenance contracts to ensure sustained operational efficiency. This partnership aims to optimise resource utilisation for testing and research while fostering knowledge sharing and capacity building between the two organisations.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Fr K.S. Casimir, Director of XLRI Delhi-NCR said, “The partnership with ATS is a significant step in the direction of building a world-class design facility as part of the design school. We value their expertise and experience. Together, we will bring the best brands in the business as partners in setting up an institution for the greater good that will do the nation proud.”
Avik Chattopadhyay, Chairperson of XADM and Founder of INDEA added, “To create a global benchmark, one needs the best domain experts and we at XADM are privileged to have ATS as one at the initial stages of the setting up of India’s first dedicated automobile design school. They will get the best from across the world for the design and prototyping facilities that are core to the school. Ramanathan and the ATS team share our dream and commitment towards building a world-class institution.”
S. Ramanathan, MD of ATS India further added, “The setting up of the state-of-the-art centre focusing on Automotive Design Management by XLRI is a first in India. It’ll give an opportunity for the students to learn the nuances of designing and developing as well as managing an automotive ‘protoshop’. They’ll get to learn design management, parts manufacturing, vehicle integration as well as basic testing and validation. It will benefit the industry in a big way, especially start-ups who can come & use these facilities for their product development. We expect this project to set up a great example of industry-academia collaboration in the automotive space and are really happy to be associated with such a prestigious project.”
How it will benefit
Upon completion, the facility will be commissioned under the guidance of XADM and XLRI Delhi-NCR, positioning it as a premier destination for automotive design education and research. This collaboration marks a significant step forward in bridging the gap between academic knowledge and industry practices, equipping students with the skills and expertise needed to excel in the rapidly evolving automotive sector. It aims to create a world-class environment for faculty, students, and industry to co-create sustainable and inclusive mobility solutions for the greater good.
