Volvo, Kia, BYD Compete in Final Sprint for WCOTY 2024

By Dabbie Davis

Mar 03, 2024 09:26 PM EST

BLACK COUPES
(Photo : PEXELS/Torsten Dettlaff )

These electric cars BYD Seal, Kia EV9, and Volvo EX30 are the top 3 candidates for World Car of the Year. Infact, not a single one of these cars is made in the United States. Next month, these contenders will face off in a tough struggle for the esteemed title of 2024 WCOTY.

WCOTY 2024

Namely, the Kia EV9, Volvo EX30, and BYD Seal (as shown above) will compete for the highly regarded award. It's important to note that the BYD Seal and the Volvo EX30 are made in China, giving the lineup a global feel.

According to Autoblog, additionally, the Geneva Motor Show in Switzerland recently unveiled the three leading finalists in five other categories. The highly anticipated unveiling ceremony for the winners of each of the six categories will take place on March 27 during a live awards presentation at the New York International Auto Show. The World Car Awards are celebrating their 20th anniversary this year, as well as its long-standing association with the New York exhibition.

Apart from the esteemed Car of the Year award, there exist multiple more noteworthy categories that each have their own finalists:

Among the finalists in the electric vehicle class are the BMW i5, Kia EV9, and Volvo EX30. This list showcases the diverse range of state-of-the-art electric cars eligible for prizes in the WCOTY competition.

Premium Car Category

Among the contenders for the premium car category are the Mercedes EQE SUV, BMW 5 Series/i5, and Mercedes Benz E-Class. These cars are exquisite luxury and possess craftsmanship.

The BMW M2, BMW XM, and Hyundai Ionia 5 N are the top three cars in the performance car class. The Hyundai Ionia 5 N, BMW M2, and BMW XM are the pinnacles of driving dynamics and cutting edge performance in the performance car class, according to the automotive industry.

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The BYD Dolphin, Lexus LBX, and Volvo EX30 are slated to compete in the urban car class, showcasing the creativity and usefulness of the most recent alternatives for urban mobility. Furthermore, the World Car Design category showcases the Ford Bronco, Ferrari Purosangue, and Toyota Prius, each exemplifying unique and captivating design philosophies.

Notably, the representation among U.S. companies is limited, with Ford being the sole contender in the final selections, specifically in the design category for the Bronco. It's interesting to observe that BMW leads the pack with four vehicles in the finals, closely followed by Volvo with three entries, while Kia and Mercedes each have two finalists, reflecting a wide-ranging and competitive field in the WCOTY awards.

How to Qualify

According to ZigWheels the World Car Awards regulations, required the vehicles competing for the prestigious WCOTY title must demonstrate substantial production volumes of at least 10,000 units per year. Moreover, they are required to maintain price points below the luxury-car threshold in their respective primary markets. It's essential that these vehicles are readily available for purchase in at least two major markets, including China, Europe, India, Japan, Korea, Latin America, and the United States, reflecting a global accessibility and resonance. These stringent criteria ensure that the contenders represent a broad market appeal and availability, underscoring the inclusive nature of the WCOTY competition.

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