'We look at design through the lens of sustainability'

Sustainability is a core aspect of automotive manufacturing including design function. Martin Uhlarik, Head of Global Design, Tata Motors, looks at it more as an opportunity in working towards a carbon-neutral ecosystem. He discusses this and a lot more with Sumana Sarkar.

- Sumana Sarkar

How do you see global warming or climate change impact automotive design?

As a company, we have to make sure we are in sync with these global targets and objectives (to rein in global warming). A designer's job is to find solutions to problems. So this is not seen as a crisis but an opportunity - not just product-wise but also as a business.

Tata Motors is making a very big push with respect to electrification and you can see it already with our current market share. We have an ambitious plan of electrifying our entire range. As we go into the next generation of products, it almost offers a white sheet of paper for designers. When you are designing a 'born electric vehicle' to meet the targets, it actually creates a blank canvas for the designers to create something new and this is not limited to just the powertrain perspective of auto designing.

From a creative point of view, it is actually very empowering, and then, of course, it is not just the powertrain but the materials that are used. We are keen about making sure they are sustainable and part of the circular economy so in the end, the emission is net zero. For me, it is actually a huge opportunity and exciting.

What kind of risk do the heat islands developing in many regions, including India, pose in terms of designing an automobile? What then are your priorities in adapting to these extreme conditions?

Fundamentally, the first priority would be to address the environment to avoid this kind of extreme weather conditions. In the end, our products are mobility products. Their job is to take a person from point A to B and also take a person safely to point B from A. That has to be always the chief objective of our products.