The increasing severity of the rules about consumption and emissions motivated by the need of reducing the environmental impact of transport system, motivates the deep technological change that is rapidly modifying the automotive sector. One of the main trends is that of an increasing level of electrification, so that, in the next years, most of the vehicles will be electric or hybrid. Another trend is related to the connectivity and to an increa... More...

The increasing severity of the rules about consumption and emissions motivated by the need of reducing the environmental impact of transport system, motivates the deep technological change that is rapidly modifying the automotive sector. One of the main trends is that of an increasing level of electrification, so that, in the next years, most of the vehicles will be electric or hybrid. Another trend is related to the connectivity and to an increasing level of driver’s assistance. The availability of a broadband 5G connection, together with on-board sensors and powerful data processing capacity enabled by artificial intelligence, will lead in the near future to increasing level of autonomy to the vehicles that will revolutionize the transport sector. The autonomous and connected vehicle will considerably increase the safety, the energy efficiency and reduce the traffic congestion, allowing in perspective to dedicate part of the driver’s time to non driving tasks.
In parallel to this the pervasive use of computer and internet technology in production lines is leading to a new conception of the production process, usually referred to as Industry 4.0. Artificial intelligence (AI), additive manufacturing (AM) and internet of the things (IoT) are just some of the key enabling technologies behind the rethinking of the production process characterizing the Industry 4.0 approach.
The new trends that are deeply transforming the automotive industry, require a rethinking of the automotive engineering program to allow the new engineers to face effectively the new challenges. The new program has been setup after a confrontation with several companies as well as through the analysis of the trends of the automotive sector.
The new program is characterized during the first year by a strong background on the fundamental subjects that are at the base of the new trends, such as: electrified propulsion and energy management, driver’s assistance and control systems, production technologies. The second year is then organized in four tracks
- Product Design, devoted to the methodologies and tools for product and process design and development, with main focus on the product conception and design of energy efficiency, and low emissions of electrical and hybrid propulsion systems as well as environmental and economic sustainability.
- Autonomous and Connected Vehicle, focused on the technologies, systems and architectures, at the base of autonomous and connected driving.
- Product Development and Application, devoted to the product development to achieve the desired target setting defined during the product design by deploying the requisites at system, subsystem and component level.
- Industrial Processes dedicated to development and management of automotive production processes.
Interviews with companies have also stressed the importance, for Master students, of a learning by doing experience, for example such as that typical of the activity in a student team.
Learning goals are:
Knowledge of the vehicle and its main subsystems including conventional, electric and hybrid powertrains and its main subsystems; vehicle dynamics, control and driver assistance systems; active and passive safety; production processes, project and logistics managements.
Ability to apply the knowledge about design and characterization of components and automotive systems. Ability to work in a team with focus on innovation; to interact with specialists of different competence areas and to understand company dynamics.
The training provides a first common year devoted to the study of hybrid and electric powertrains, battery pack, energy management, vehicle dynamics and driving assistance systems, car body and its aerodynamics. During the second semester the students start to be involved in one of the four specific paths that will become their specialty during the third and fourth semesters:
- Product Design
- Autonomous and Connected Vehicle
- Development and Application
- Industrial Processes

All teaching is held in English.
The training ends with a thesis that can be made in a Department or in a Company.
The goals of the thesis are:
- to face engineering topics related to the Course and to use the acquired knowledges, working independently on company or research projects with critical attitude.
- to relate with colleagues in interdisciplinary teams.
- to develop, present and debate methods and results, showing aptitude for synthesis in a public dissertation.
Many of the theses are made in automotive Companies to allow the students to face the industrial world before obtaining the degree.