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About GCOTY Awards

Celebrating Innovation.
Honoring Excellence.

The GCOTY Awards, supported by a growing panel of top-level automotive experts, is dedicated to recognizing and inspiring excellence and innovation across the industry. 

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Each year, our jury test-drives and evaluates every significant new vehicle available, judging them both within their respective segments and in a broader, overall context.

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The Categories

The GCOTY 2026 program is divided into five segments:

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  • BUDGET

    • ​All new cars with an entry-level price under €25,000​

  • COMPACT

    • All new cars with an entry-level price between €25,000 and €40,000

  • PREMIUM

    • All new cars with an entry-level price between €40,000 and €70,000

  • LUXURY

    • All new cars (except ultra low-volume models) with an entry-level price over €70,000

  • PERFORMANCE

    • All new sports cars, roadsters, and high-performance variants of existing models (except ultra low-volume models)

 

Each segment’s winner is selected by jury members who have driven and evaluated the eligible vehicles. These winners then undergo head-to-head testing at a dedicated group evaluation event.

The model with the highest number of votes overall is declared:

 

GERMAN CAR OF THE YEAR

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Eligibility and Voting Integrity

  • Eligibility is based strictly on objective criteria: entry-level price and market availability.
    Vehicle selection is not subject to automaker discretion.

  • Participation is free - for both the category voting and the final test event.
    Automakers are not charged to take part or to receive a trophy.

  • Jury members are neither paid nor charged for their involvement. Their votes are strictly confidential and never disclosed to automakers or third parties.

  • The entire voting process is conducted and certified by our trusted partner, Aitastic Research & Consult AG.

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Independence and Transparency

GCOTY Awards is financed through:

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  • Optional licensing fees

  • External sponsors

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However, sponsors have no influence or access to the jury, vehicle selection, or voting results.

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GCOTY Awards may also organize activities such as:

  • Webinars and symposiums

  • Driving events and writing competitions

  • Networking opportunities and editorial initiatives

 

These efforts are designed to foster community and elevate automotive journalism, and are strictly separate from the GCOTY awards process.

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