Automotive supplier challenges European design & engineering students to help design the car of the future
Magna International Inc. today announced that it will participate in one of the world’s largest and most important car shows, the International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt, Germany. In advance of its display at the 66th IAA this September, Magna invites engineering and industrial design students from universities across Europe to share their vision for the car of the future through the Magna Student Innovation Challenge.
“The competition is a great opportunity for talented, highly motivated and ambitious students to gain insight into Magna and the automotive industry,” says Swamy Kotagiri, Magna’s Chief Technology Officer. “At the same time it allows Magna to connect with these young minds from universities and technical institutes. They represent the future of our changing industry and will design the next generation of cars. We encourage them to start today by helping us define how vehicles will become smarter, cleaner, safer and lighter in the future.”
The challenge is open to engineering and industrial design students at the undergraduate and graduate levels who reside in Europe and are attending a college or university in Europe. Applications are due by June 26, 2015, and finalists will be contacted via email no later than July 17, 2015.
To enter the Magna Student Innovation Challenge, students submit a 500-word essay with their creative ideas regarding what vehicles should do or be by the year 2025. Entries will be evaluated by a panel of judges based on criteria such as innovation and creativity, alignment to emerging trends, and benefits / improvements to the consumer experience. The entry application can be found at www.magna.com/StudentInnovationChallenge.
Twelve finalists will travel to Frankfurt as guests of Magna for the 2015 IAA, where they will be mentored by Magna executives. They will form teams to compete in a three-day design challenge at Magna’s booth and receive the opportunity to network with industry leaders and experience one of the premier automotive events in the world. The results of the design challenge will be announced on the third day and the finalists will be awarded cash prizes totaling €40,000.
