Calling Formula Bharat teams to look beyond vehicle performance. Rethink material choices, manufacturing processes, and resource use across the vehicle lifecycle.
Submission closes in
About The Challenge
The Sustainable Innovative Mobility Challenge (SIMC) is a Formula Bharat initiative, with WRI India as its Knowledge Partner. It encourages student teams to bring sustainability into the vehicle design and development process through practical, evidence-based solutions. The challenge recognises that the environmental footprint of a vehicle extends beyond its energy source or on-track performance. It also depends on the materials selected, the way components are manufactured and packaged, and what happens to them at the end of their useful life. Great engineering is not just about building a vehicle that performs better. It is about designing smarter, using resources responsibly, and considering the impact of every decision from creation to end of-life.
What the challenge looks at
Every design decision leaves a footprint. The materials we choose, the way we manufacture, the resources we consume, and what happens to a product at the end of its useful life all shape its environmental impact. The challenge is to look beyond how well a product performs and consider how responsibly it is designed, made, used, and managed. Teams are encouraged to question conventional choices, explore opportunities to reduce environmental impacts, and demonstrate the thinking and evidence behind their decisions.
The assessment framework looks at four interconnected areas:
MATERIALS
Rethink What Goes Into Your Product Good design starts with informed material choices. Consider where materials come from, their environmental…
MATERIALS
Rethink What Goes Into Your Product Good design starts with informed material choices. Consider where materials come from, their environmental footprint, recycled or renewable content, supplier practices, and traceability. Explain why materials were selected and how those choices contribute to reducing environmental impacts.
PRODUCTION
Make Every Resource Count How a product is manufactured matters as much as what goes into it. Examine production processes,…
PRODUCTION
Make Every Resource Count How a product is manufactured matters as much as what goes into it. Examine production processes, material efficiency, energy and resource consumption, waste generation, and packaging choices. Identify opportunities to minimize resource use, reduce emissions, and make manufacturing more efficient.
CIRCULARITY
Design for What Comes Next A product’s value should not end when its first use is over. Explore how products,…
CIRCULARITY
Design for What Comes Next A product’s value should not end when its first use is over. Explore how products, components, and materials can be repaired, reused, refurbished, remanufactured, or recycled. Consider how design decisions can extend product life, retain material value, and support responsible end-of-life management.
EVIDENCE
Showcase the Thought Behind Your Choices Good intentions need evidence. Document your design decisions, explain the reasoning behind them, and…
EVIDENCE
Showcase the Thought Behind Your Choices Good intentions need evidence. Document your design decisions, explain the reasoning behind them, and support environmental claims with relevant data, calculations, and credible sources. Demonstrate measurable outcomes where possible, acknowledge trade-offs, and highlight opportunities for further improvement.
Formula Bharat x WRI India
Returning for its second year as part of the Formula Bharat experience, the Sustainable Innovative Mobility Challenge (SIMC) 2027 builds on its inaugural 2026 edition to make sustainability a more visible and practical part of student led automotive engineering.
As Knowledge Partner, WRI India brings expertise in sustainable mobility and resource-efficient systems, and supports the development of the challenge and evaluation of team submissions.
Three pit stops. Deeper insight into sustainable mobility.
Leading up to Formula Bharat 2027, three knowledge sharing sessions will connect participating teams with subject matter experts. The sessions will build awareness, share practical insights and help teams think more deeply about sustainability in automotive engineering.
1. Automotive Sustainability
Explore sustainability across the automotive value chain, from material sourcing and manufacturing to resource consumption and environmental impacts.
2. Designing for Circularity
Discover how resource-efficient design, sustainable materials, component reuse, refurbishment, and recycling can help extend product life and retain material value.
3. Battery Lifecycle and Sustainability
Understand battery materials, responsible sourcing, lifecycle impacts, second-life applications, and
recycling, and their implications for sustainable electric mobility.
Three expert-led knowledge-sharing sessions will take place by January 2027. Dates, speakers, and joining details will be shared shortly. The sessions are open to all interested teams and are a learning opportunity separate from the SIMC submission and evaluation process.
Recognition and opportunity
The winning team will receive a dedicated SIMC Trophy and the opportunity to showcase its work at a relevant national-level conclave, presenting its ideas and solutions to a wider audience of mobility, automotive, and sustainability stakeholders.
Win recognition. Showcase your innovation. Make your work part of the conversation shaping India’s sustainable mobility future.
Bring your sustainability ideas to the track.
Whether your team is rethinking material choices, reducing manufacturing waste, or designing for circularity, SIMC is an opportunity to turn engineering decisions into measurable sustainability action.
STEP 1 · JOIN THE GRID
Register your team
Complete registration by 30 November 2026. [Register here]
STEP 2 · BUILD YOUR LAP
Develop your submission
Review the official guidelines, document your approach, and prepare supporting evidence.
STEP 3 · CROSS THE LINE
Submit by the deadline
Upload your report by 30 November 2026. Shortlisted teams will be invited for on-site evaluation.
