New era for SA Car of the Year: vehicle categories, public vote, a new sponsor and more!

This year the iconic SA Car of the Year (SACOTY) competition receives a digital-media injection with the announcement of major changes to the voting and judging criteria, as well as the signing of a new sponsor - AutoTrader.

Innovation planned for the 2019 competition includes the introduction of individual categories alongside one overall winner; a re-engineered qualifying period to ensure the bulk of the new releases in September are included; and the all important inclusion of the consumer vote.

The South African Car of the Year award has always been a pivotal moment in the motoring year, a decree that shapes both motoring interest and sales for the year to come.

Roger McCleery, President of the South African Guild of Motoring Journalists, said: "The new partnership with AutoTrader starts an era of a new look for the South African Car of the Year Competition. After much discussion with our stakeholders, the 2019 event will certainly suit the entire motor industry."

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A new opportunity

"Partnering with the South African Car of the Year competition is an opportunity for us to add value to the motoring industry, in a variety of new ways. It is the most reputable, prestigious and longest running motoring award in the country. We’re excited to tackle this new opportunity," said AutoTrader CEO George Mienie.

READ: Porsche Panamera crowned 2018 SA Car of the Year

The Porsche Panamera has won the coveted title in 2018; among the top three finalists, the Volvo S90 grabbed second place while the Alfa Romeo Giulia was third.

First run in 1986, the SACOTY was founded by the South African Guild of Motoring Journalists (SAGMJ), itself approaching 57 years in existence. AutoTrader’s added 26 years of experience give the competition over a century of combined motoring know-how, along with a shared desire for innovation.

With a judging process based on both rigorous judge selection - the competition uses a minimum of 22 judges chosen by voting, peer, and industry-wide selection, across the SAGMJ’s 300 plus membership; and relentless judging criteria - cars are personally scored on between 10 and 12 factors, test driven on track and road, and verified by each judge within a set time period - the SACOTY is respected across the globe.

"The South African Car Of the Year competition remains about excellence and our jury has always reflected that sentiment; it takes a minimum of 5 years for any journalist to be eligible for jury duty." said Rubin Van Niekerk, Chairman of the South African Guild of Motoring Journalists.

Wheels24's Janine Van der Post, who has been a SA Coty judge, says: "The new format is exciting and especially because the jury, industry players, and the public's concerns have been taken into account and suggestions are now a reality. With public participation also now part of the programme, things can only get better for the competition." 

SAGMJ chairman Rubin Van Niekerk says: "A number of meetings and workshops were held with many different stakeholders on the innovative changes that are required in the format of the competition to amplify the prestige, excellence and cutting-edge technology represented by COTY. 

"The South African Car Of The Year Competition enjoys international recognition and there is no doubt that COTY remains the most advanced competition in South Africa, and in most of the World. It has set the benchmark in the automotive industry for more than 3 decades. 

"Through the Guild’s well thought out strategic planning, this competition remains the ultimate measureof excellence and is not simply a “popularity contest”.