Maruti Suzuki India on Monday announced the launch of the second edition of its flagship design challenge, DesignXathon 2026, which aims to nurture young design talent and foster innovation in future mobility solutions.
According to the official press release, the competition is open to students pursuing design courses at Indian and global design institutes based in India. For this year’s edition, participants were asked to “imagine an iconic vehicle that Generations Z and Alpha aspire to own in 2036,” with concepts expected to reflect mobility needs and lifestyle preferences for the period 2035-2040.
Entries will be judged on parameters such as vehicle category selection, relevance to Generation Z and Alpha consumers, integration of sustainability, and alignment between design philosophy and technology.
“Automotive design goes far beyond aesthetics – it is a combination of innovation, creativity and new perspectives that not only captivates but also influences customer choices,” said Hisashi Takeuchi, Managing Director and CEO, Maruti Suzuki India.
Takeuchi further said that the company believes that young minds play a key role in challenging conventional design thinking and shaping the future of mobility.
The first edition of DesignXathon in 2025 received registrations from over 400 students from 70 institutes, with the winning teams coming from MIT Institute of Design, VIT Vellore and Strate School of Design. Eight students from the previous edition are currently undergoing a six-month internship in the Maruti Suzuki design team.
Applications for DesignXathon 2026 are open until July 13, 2026. The top three teams will receive a six-month internship at Maruti Suzuki’s design studio, while the fourth to tenth ranked teams will also be recognized and given the opportunity to apply for internships.
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