Bangalore: Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) has announced the 19th edition of the much-loved Toyota Dream Car Art Contest (TDCAC), inviting children across India to put their wildest automotive imaginations on paper. Conceptualised by Toyota Motor Corporation, the global initiative runs from January 12 to February 12, 2026, and is open to children aged 15 years and under.
With the theme “Your Dream Car”, Toyota is once again asking young minds to forget traffic jams, parking woes, and fuel prices—and instead dream freely. Flying cars? Solar-powered vehicles? A car that plants trees while driving? All ideas are welcome.
A Global Contest with an Indian Canvas
The Toyota Dream Car Art Contest is conducted nationally across 90+ participating countries, with winners from each region advancing to the prestigious World Contest. In India, the National Contest will select three winners each from the following age categories:
- Category 1: 7 years and under
- Category 2: 8–11 years
- Category 3: 12–15 years
The top 9 winners—three from each category—will receive certificates and the honour of representing India at the Global Contest, scheduled after March 2026. In addition, 18 finalists will be recognised with digital certificates, because great ideas deserve applause, even if they’re drawn with sketch pens.
Where Imagination Meets Innovation
Participants are encouraged to think without boundaries—no rulebooks, no engineering constraints, and definitely no “this is not possible” warnings from adults. The contest celebrates creativity as the starting point of innovation, reinforcing Toyota’s belief that today’s doodles could inspire tomorrow’s mobility solutions.
Speaking on the announcement, Sabari Manohar, Executive Vice President, Sales-Service-Used Car Business, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said,
“The Toyota Dream Car Art Contest reflects our enduring belief that imagination is the inception point of innovation. This remarkable annual initiative celebrates the extraordinary ability of children to envision a better, smarter, and more sustainable future through their art. As we introduce the 19th edition, we look forward to witnessing the fresh ideas and boundless imagination of children across India, whose visions will help define the future of mobility.”
India’s Growing Global Footprint
Indian participants have consistently made their mark on the global stage. At the 17th edition in 2024, Ms. Peruri Lakshmi Sahasra from Visakhapatnam won the Best Finalist Award in the 12–15 years category at the Global Contest—proving that big ideas don’t need a driving licence.
As Toyota rolls out the 19th edition, the message is clear: innovation doesn’t always begin in a lab—sometimes, it starts on a drawing sheet at home.
For complete contest details, rules, and submission guidelines, visit Toyota Bharat’s official Dream Car Contest page.
