by Suman Gupta
- Indian Car of the Year 2024 – Hyundai Exter
- Indian Motorcycle of the Year 2024 – Royal Enfield Himalayan
Mumbai, December 21, 2023: The 19th edition of the Indian Car of the Year [ICOTY] and 17th edition of Indian Motorcycle of the Year [IMOTY] awards, proudly promoted by JK Tyre ever since its inception, was held in a spectacular function in Mumbai. These awards stand as the pinnacle of recognition in the Indian automobile industry, with a legacy of honoring excellence and innovation. The ceremony brought together top industry leaders and eminent journalists, making it a topmost highlight in the industry’s calendar.
The awards were presented by Dr. Raghupati Singhania, Chairman & Managing Director, JK Tyre & Industries, together with ICOTY Chairman Dhruv Behl, IMOTY Chairman Bertrand Dsouza and other esteemed jury members.
The prestigious title of the Indian Car of the Year for 2024 was awarded to Hyundai Exter. The vehicle’s [Hyundai Exter] features, innovative design, and outstanding performance set it apart in a highly competitive field, making it the undisputed favourite among judges. Simultaneously, Royal Enfield Himalayan clinched the Indian Motorcycle of the Year 2024 award, showcasing unparalleled excellence in the realm of two-wheelers. The ICOTY Jury introduced the ‘Premium Car Award’ under the ICOTY umbrella in 2019, with BMW 7 Series securing the prestigious title for 2024. Recognising the rise in electric vehicles and allied with the government’s commendable initiatives, the ICOTY jury introduced the ‘Green Car Award’ in 2021, aimed at acknowledging manufacturers’ contributions to the future of mobility. The Hyundai IONIQ 5 proudly received the Green Car Award for 2024.
Dr. Raghupati Singhania, Chairman & Managing Director, JK Tyre & Industries Limited, said, “The ICOTY and IMOTY Awards mark a pivotal celebration of automotive excellence, underscoring the relentless pursuit of innovation and superior performance within the Indian automobile landscape. For us at JK Tyre, these awards signify a longstanding association
which reflects our commitment to fostering innovation & supporting technological advancements in our industry. As we honor the outstanding winners, we celebrate a collective acknowledgment that these awards continue to be the guiding force that drives the industry towards greater heights of success and accomplishment.”
The nominated machines underwent a rigorous evaluation by a panel of seasoned automotive journalists. The judging process revolved around multiple customer-centric parameters, ensuring a comprehensive analysis of each vehicle’s merits. Price, fuel-efficiency, styling, comfort, safety, performance, practicality, technical innovation, value for money quotient, and aptness for Indian driving conditions were integral factors that shaped the verdict.
Mr. Dhruv Behl, Chairman of the ICOTY Jury, said, “I’d like to congratulate the winners for pushing the envelope in their respective segments and putting cutting-edge vehicles on our roads. I’d also like to say what an honour it is to be Chairman of this highly illustrious jury. Bear in mind, the ICOTY jury has a cumulative road-testing experience of 327 years, with an average of 18 years of experience for each jury member.”
Mr. Bertrand Dsouza, Chairman of the IMOTY Jury, said, “The Indian Motorcycle of the Year 2024 is a wonderful collection of some of the most superior machinery seen on Indian roads in the year gone by. Technology and performance are undoubtedly the flavour of this year nominees, and this reflects the sentiments of the Indian consumer who are looking for niche motorcycles that are exciting and fun to ride. The Indian Motorcycle of the Year 2024, the Royal Enfield Himalayan embodies all those characteristics, it’s fun to ride, is priced well, and matches the aspirations of a generation that is young at heart and in mind!”
On winning the ICOTY 2024 award, Mr. Tarun Garg, COO, Hyundai Motor India, said, “I’m incredibly grateful for the recognition bestowed upon Hyundai with the ICOTY win for Exter and the Green Car of the Year title for IONIQ 5. A massive thank you to the esteemed jury for this honor. The overwhelming response, with Exter amassing over 100,000 bookings and IONIQ 5 sales reaching 1100 units, reflects the trust and support from our amazing customers. Hyundai Motor is committed to setting benchmarks with our products and services. Here’s to driving innovation and exceeding expectations!”
On winning the IMOTY 2024 award, Mr. Siddhartha Lal, Managing Director & CEO, Eicher Motors Ltd, said, “We are honored to be awarded the Indian Motorcycle Of The Year 2024. A big thank you to the jury members for recognising the new Himalayan with this award and to our consumers who have given it such a positive response. The new Himalayan is an exceptional motorcycle; and is among the top adventure tourers in the world today. This recognition marking our fourth IMOTY award in the last six years, a testament to our commitment to delivering outstanding motorcycles. We extend our sincere gratitude to the IMOTY jury and express our appreciation to JK Tyre for this.”
On winning the Premium Car of The Year 2024 award, Mr. Vikram Pawah, President, BMW Group India, said, “I would like to thank the ICOTY jury members for recognizing the BMW 7 as a clear winner that it is. The seventh generation of the BMW 7 Series is a symbol of ‘Forwardism’ that continuously challenges the ordinary, a unique quality distinguishing those who shape what’s next. The all-new 7 is the face of the new luxury class which stuns through its presence, progressiveness and emotion. It is a statement fit for progressive leaders, a piece of art – ensuring lasting fascination tomorrow and beyond.”
On winning the Green Car of The Year 2024 award, Mr. Tarun Garg, COO, Hyundai Motor India, said, “We are immensely grateful to the ICOTY jury for choosing the Hyundai IONIQ 5 as the Green Car of the Year. This recognition, alongside the remarkable 1100+ sales since its January 2023 launch, is a testament to the shared commitment towards a sustainable future. A sincere thank you to our valued customers for their overwhelming response, acknowledging the IONIQ 5’s innovation and eco-friendly impact. Hyundai is dedicated to pioneering the electric revolution, and this award fuels our passion to drive a cleaner, greener tomorrow.”
Annexure 1
Selection Parameters
IMOTY: All motorcycles that qualify for these awards are new models. Existing motorcycles that have had cosmetic facelifts or small mechanical changes, like different power or drive-trains, do not qualify for this award. The country of origin does not matter, but they have to be manufactured or assembled in India and be on sale in showrooms before November 30th of the previous year. The motorcycles should have been homologated for Indian type approval, but those imported through the CBU route are not considered.
ICOTY: All cars that qualify for these awards are new models. Existing cars that have had cosmetic facelifts or small mechanical changes, like different power or drive-trains, do not qualify for this award. The country of origin does not matter, but they have to be manufactured or assembled in India and be on sale in showrooms before November 30th of the previous year. The cars should have been homologated for Indian type approval, but those imported through the CBU route are not considered.
Voting Process
IMOTY: Selection of the Winner is by a simple voting system, where each member of the jury has a maximum of 25 points. Every Jury member can allot a maximum of 10 points to one motorcycle. And every Jury member must give points to at least 5 of the contending motorcycles. A very fair and transparent system makes the IMOTY the most credible auto award.
ICOTY: Selection of the Winner is by a simple voting system, where each member of the jury has a maximum of 25 points. Every Jury member can allot a maximum of 10 points to one car. And every Jury member must give points to at least 5 of the contending cars. A very fair and transparent system makes the ICOTY the most credible auto award.
| ICOTY JURY 2024 | |||
| Sr | Name | Designation | Publication |
| 1 | Yogendra Pratap | Editor | Auto Today |
| 2 | Rahul Ghosh | Associate editor | Auto Today |
| 3 | Dhruv Behl | Managing Editor | autoX |
| 4 | Ishan Raghava | Executive Editor | autoX |
| 5 | Aspi Bhathena | Editor | Car India |
| 6 | Jim Gorde | Deputy Editor | Car India |
| 7 | Sirish Chandran | Editor | Evo india |
| 8 | Aatish Mishra | Asst Editor | Evo india |
| 9 | Pablo Chaterji | Editor | Motoring world |
| 10 | Kartik Ware | Asst Editor | Motoring world |
| 11 | Bertrand Dsouza | Editor | Overdrive |
| 12 | Bob Rupani | Contributor & Founding Member | Overdrive |
| 13 | Arpit mehendra | Editor | TOI Auto |
| 14 | Vikrant Singh | Editor | Carwale |
| 16 | Kushan Mitra | Contributor | The Print |
| 17 | Ameya Dandekar | Asst Editor | Cardekho |
| 18 | Abhay Verma | Editor | Turbocharged |
| 19 | Cyrus Dhabhar | Editor-in-chief | Powerdrift |
IMOTY JURY 2024
| Sr | Name | Designation | Publication |
| 1 | Rahul Ghosh | Associate Editor | Auto Today |
| 2 | Dipayan Dutta | Senior Special Correspondent | Auto Today |
| 3 | Shivank Bhatt | Road-Test Editor | AutoX |
| 4 | Manav sinha | Senior Correspondent | Autox |
| 5 | Aspi Bhathena | Editor | Bike India |
| 6 | Joshua Verghese | Senior Correspondent | Bike India |
| 7 | Sirish Chandran | Editor | Evo india |
| 8 | Aatish Mishra | Asst Editor | Evo india |
| 9 | Kartik Ware | Asst Editor | Motoring world |
| 10 | Manaal Mahatme | Asst Editor | Motoring world |
| 11 | Bertrand Dsouza | Editor | Overdrive |
| 12 | Rohit Paradkar | Two-wheeler Road test Editor | Overdrive |
| 13 | Abhay Verma | Editor | Turbocharged |
| 14 |
Prateek Kunder |
Asst Editor | Bikewale |
| 15 | Varun Painter | Editor – 2W Content | Powerdrift |
Annexure 2 – Past Winners
| ICOTY | IMOTY | Premium Car Award | Green Car Award |
| Kia Carens (2023) | Royal Enfield Hunter (2023) | Mercedes EQS 580 (2023) | KIA EV6 (2023) |
| Mahindra XUV 700 (2022) | TVS Raider (2022) | Mercedes Benz S-Class (2022) | Audi e-tron (2022) |
| Hyundai i20 (2021) | Royal Enfield Meteor 350 (2021) | Land Rover Defender (2021) | Tata Nexon EV (2021) |
| Hyundai Venue (2020) | Hero Xpulse 200 (2020)
|
BMW 3-Series Sedan (2020) | |
| Maruti Suzuki Swift (2019) | Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 (2019) | Volvo XC40 (2019)
|
|
| Hyundai Verna (2018) | KTM 390 Duke (2018) | ||
| Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza (2017) | TVS Apache RTR 200 4V (2017) | ||
| Hyundai Creta (2016) | Yamaha YZF R3 (2016) | ||
| Hyundai Elite i20 (2015) | Harley-Davidson Street 750 (2015) | ||
| Hyundai i10 Grand (2014) | Royal Enfield Continental (2014) | ||
| Renault Duster (2013) | KTM Duke 200 (2013) | ||
| Maruti Suzuki Swift (2012) | Honda CBR 250R (2012) | ||
| Ford Figo (2011) | Honda CB Twister (2011) | ||
| Tata Nano (2010) | Kawasaki Ninja 250R (2010) | ||
| Honda City (2009) | Yamaha R15 (2009) | ||
| Hyundai i10 (2008) | Bajaj Pulsar 220 DTS-Fi (2008)
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| Honda Civic (2007) | |||
| Maruti Suzuki Swift (2006)
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