Global automotive industry and 2027 vehicle awards

The automotive industry is preparing for various 2027 vehicle awards and navigating shifting global market dynamics.

In the Seguro Directo Carro do Ano/Troféu Volante de Cristal competition, 39 models from 26 brands have been announced as candidates across nine classes. The competition includes new entries from Mercedes, Ebro, Geely, and Zeekr, while Toyota leads with four entries. Notably, the electric vehicle category has been divided into two groups based on range: models with up to 400 km and those exceeding 400 km. Dynamic testing for these models is expected to conclude in February, with winners announced in March.

On a broader scale, the World Car of the Year 2027 has a preliminary list of 56 nominees, including electric models from BMW and Mercedes-Benz alongside Chinese crossovers. The final list is anticipated by December 2026. Globally, market leadership is currently held by Toyota, followed by Volkswagen Group and Hyundai Motor Group, amid a rising demand for electric and affordable Chinese vehicles. In Iran, the availability of these global trends is limited, with only four models from the 2027 nominee list—the Lexus ES, BMW i3, XPeng G6, and Leapmotor T03—present in the local market.