Tata Aeris: Designing a Sedan in the Age of SUVs | Martin Uhlarik Interview
Martin Uhlarik on transitioning from Tigor to Aeris, crafting a classical three-box silhouette, balancing ground clearance with sleek sedan proportions, and designing exclusively for personal car buyers.
Tata Motors has introduced the all-new Aeris compact sedan, giving the predecessor Tigor a comprehensive overhaul with a traditional three-box silhouette, elevated proportions, and an upscale cabin experience. In this conversation with Autocar Professional, Martin Uhlarik, Global Design Head, Tata Motors, explains how evolving customer aspirations and a focus on prestige prompted the brand to move away from the coupe-style roofline to deliver a car that feels a segment above.
How Tata Balanced Ground Clearance and Sedan Proportions on the Aeris
The Aeris features a prominent, high-set nose, distinct trunk volume, and refined exterior surfacing tailored to project road presence and status. Uhlarik details how the design team balanced generous ground clearance for challenging Indian roads without sacrificing classic sedan stances, while revamping the interior architecture with premium soft-touch materials, ergonomic comfort, and intuitive digital interfaces.
Is There Still a Place for Sedans in an SUV-Dominated Market?
The discussion also explores how Tata Motors views the role of sedans in an SUV-dominated automotive market, avoiding barebones compromises on lower variants, and targeting the product squarely at private ownership rather than commercial fleet buyers.
Watch the full conversation here.
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02 Oct 2026
Autocar Professional Bureau

Mukul Yudhveer Singh