Archive · 27 Sep 2026
How Tata Motors Used VR to Build Aeris Sedan Quickly
Tata Motors made a new small sedan called the Aeris.
A sedan has a separate engine area, passenger area, and boot.
Making one small enough to fit under four metres can be difficult.
Designers still want passengers to have comfortable seats and enough boot space.
The team used virtual reality to look at the car before building it.
Leaders could walk around digital versions and discuss changes together.
Because of this, they built only one full-size physical model.
The whole design process took 24 months, and the team may be working on more new designs.
Tata Motors developed the sub-four-metre Aeris sedan from initial sketch to production in 24 months.
Chief Design Officer Martin Uhlarik said sedan design requires balancing a three-box shape with rear-seat and boot space.
The design team used virtual reality to review 3D proposals collaboratively in a shared digital environment.
Virtual tools reduced the need for physical prototypes, with only one full-size model built.
Uhlarik described the Sierra as his most flawless design and hinted at more future projects from Tata’s studio.
- Who
- Tata Motors and its Chief Design Officer Martin Uhlarik designed the Aeris.
- What
- The company developed a sub-four-metre sedan in 24 months using extensive virtual-reality design tools.
- When
- The Aeris was launched on Friday; its design process took 24 months from the initial sketch to production.
- Where
- The work was carried out by Tata Motors’ design team and Tata Motors Design Tech Centre.
- Why
- Virtual reality enabled collaborative design reviews and reduced the need for multiple physical prototypes.
- Vehicle
- Aeris sub-four-metre sedan
- Development time
- 24 months from initial sketch to production model
- Physical prototypes
- One 1:1-scale physical model was created
- Key technology
- Virtual reality and shared digital 3D design spaces
- Design challenge
- Maintaining a three-box sedan shape while preserving rear-seat and boot space
- Chief design officer
- Martin Uhlarik
- Other highlighted design
- The Sierra, identified by Uhlarik as his most flawless design