In announcing its finalists for the yearly Accelerator Awards competition, naamsa | The Automotive Business Council says it will also acknowledge the socioeconomic contributions of members by adding award categories for Job Creator of the Year, Women- and Youth-Empowering Original-Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) of the Year and for the most Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment-improved and -compliant OEM of the Year.

The Accelerator Awards has become South Africa’s most prestigious motoring competition, with naamsa using trusted and independently audited datasets to recognise best-performing brands in different automotive segments and across the entire automotive value chain.

naamsa has also looked at the best-performing dealerships in the country by volume and will recognise the Dealer of the Year and Dealer Achiever of the Year.

The winners will be announced during an awards ceremony on October 13 at Gallagher Convention Centre, in Midrand.

The council will also recognise a Top Business Journalist of the Year, Top Auto Journalist and Top Emerging Auto Journalist of the Year, as well as Top Media House of the Year, in addition to a Long Service Award, naamsa Value Creator of the Year and naamsa Lifetime Achievement Award.

Naamsa has named the Suzuki Swift, Toyota Corolla Cross and Volkswagen (VW) Polo Vivo vehicles as finalists for the Passenger Car of the Year award, while it nominated the Honda BR-V, Suzuki Baleno and Suzuki Dzire vehicles as finalists for the Biggest Achiever of the Year (passenger segment) award.

The Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) of the Year finalists are Ford Ranger, Isuzu D-Max and Toyota Hilux, while Ford Transit Custom, Kia Picanto Runner and VW Caddy have made the finalist round for Biggest Achiever of the Year (LCV segment).

Other finalists include:

Medium Commercial Vehicle of the Year: Hino 300 Series; Isuzu N-Series and Iveco Daily.

Heavy Commercial Vehicle of the Year: FAW CA 15; Hino 500 Series and Isuzu F-Series. 

Extra-Heavy Commercial Vehicle of the Year: Mercedes-Benz Actros; Scania G-Series and Volvo FH.

Bus of the Year: MAN Bus; Mercedes-Benz Bus and Scania Bus.

New Energy Vehicle of the Year | Plug-in Models: BMW iX; BMW X3 and Mini Hatch 3-Door.

New Energy Vehicle of the Year | Traditional Hybrid Models: Haval H6; Toyota Corolla Cross and Toyota RAV.

Top Locally Manufactured Vehicle of the Year: Ford Ranger; Toyota Hilux and VW Polo.

Top Exported Vehicle of the Year: BMW X3; Toyota Hilux and VW Polo.

Dealer of the Year (passenger segment): Durban South Toyota; Hatfield VW Pretoria and Suzuki Bassonia Johannesburg

Dealer Achiever of the Year (passenger segment): Bidvest McCarthy; Nissan Woodmead; Broadway Toyota Mahalapye and Mariental Toyota.

Top Imported Vehicle of the Year: Suzuki Swift; Toyota Starlet and Toyota Urban Cruiser.