The 2024 World Car of the Year Awards have named 18 finalists in six categories, and just one is an American-made car. No pressure, Ford Bronco.
A jury of 98 journalists from 30 countries grants the awards. They’ll name the winners at the New York International Auto Show next month.
BMW led all automakers with four finalists. Volvo earned three. Kia, Mercedes, and China’s BYD have two each. A handful of finalists have never been sold in the U.S., including two BYD models and the Lexus LBX subcompact SUV.
The center of the automotive world is shifting toward China.
BYD overtook Tesla as the world’s top electric vehicle (EV) builder last year. It’s one of several Chinese automakers building or considering plants in Mexico. Chinese cars have become big business in Mexico – they’ve outsold American vehicles south of the border since 2022.
An American manufacturing group recently raised the alarm about Chinese cars in America, warning that vehicles built in Mexico by Chinese-owned manufacturers might be able to qualify for $7,500 federal EV tax credits and could hurt American manufacturing.
The Finalists:
World Car of the Year: BYD Seal, Kia EV9, Volvo EX30
World Electric Vehicle of the Year: BMW i5, Kia EV9, Volvo EX30
World Luxury Car of the Year: BMW 5 Series/i5, Mercedes Benz E-Class, Mercedes Benz EQE SUV
World Performance Car of the Year: BMW M2, BMW XM, Hyundai Ionia 5 N
World Urban Car of the Year: BYD Dolphin, Lexus LBX, Volvo EX30
World Car Design of the Year: Ford Bronco, Ferrari Purosangue, Toyota Prius
