The Volkswagen ID. Buzz (see above) electric vehicle (EV) has been announced as the Best Car of the Year in the Best Cars of the Year (Best COTY) 2023/2024 awards, with the Toyota GR86 being awarded the silver medal and the Nissan Ariya EV taking bronze. That’s two electric vehicles in the top three of the Best COTY awards which shows the auto world is changing.
Best COTY is made up of a panel of international car designers, engineers, auto industry titans, motorsport legends, specialist journalists, broadcasters, media professionals and members of the public.
Volkswagen said: “We are delighted with the recognition and the win for the pure-electric ID. Buzz. We’re grateful to the uniquely diverse and highly knowledgeable Best Cars of the Year judging panel for voting for it as their overall winner.”
Earlier this month, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles (VWCV) announced 2022 was dominated by the ID. Buzz, the first Bulli designed as an electric vehicle. After the world premiere in March, pre-sales began in May. Even before the vehicle arrived at dealerships in autumn, customers had already ordered 21,000, clearly exceeding VWCV’s forecasts for the year.
Relative newcomer Genesis won the Car Company of the Year title after impressing many members of the international judging panel with an exciting and extensive range of all-new luxury models to be rolled out across Europe and the rest of the world in 2023/2024.
Genesis officially revealed images of the new GV60 in 2021 which is the brand’s first electric car. The company also announced recently that its luxury X Convertible Concept electric cabriolet will go into production.
The South Korean firm was ecstatically happy, not least because it comfortably beat long-established rival firms such as Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Lexus in the judging process.
Genesis said: “What an honour for Genesis to be awarded Best Car Company of the Year – especially at such an early stage in our journey. To be recognised by such an illustrious and renowned group of judges with this prestigious award is something special.
“What adds to it and makes the win all the more exceptional is the way Genesis has been accepted in Europe – by the official Best COTY judging panel and the public.”
The MG4 electric car was awarded Best Affordable Electric Car of the Year by the panel while the Citroen AMI took the title of Best Quadricycle of the Year.
