by American Cars Win at German Competition
At the “German Car of the Year” (GCOTY) competition, two American models won victories in key categories, which came as a surprise, given the traditional dominance of German manufacturers. Although BMW, Volkswagen, and Mercedes-Benz cars typically show excellent results on German roads, this time the victory went to representatives from overseas.
Winners by Category
American Success
The Lucid Air Sapphire electric vehicle, which represents the American interpretation of a hypersedan, won in the “Performance” category. Its technical specifications are impressive: 1234 hp and acceleration to 60 mph in less than 2 seconds. This car makes German models such as the BMW M5 and Porsche Taycan Turbo GT less competitive.
The Cadillac Vistiq, which has 615 hp, won in the “Luxury” category. This success indicates that Cadillac’s electric vehicles are resonating not only in the USA but also in Europe. This is Cadillac’s second victory at GCOTY: last year, the Lyriq model also received an award in the “Luxury” category but lost in the overall standings to the BMW 5-series and i5.
Other Winners
Among other winners are the Dacia Bigster, which received the award in the “Budget” category, the electric Skoda Elroq, which won in the “Compact” category, and the Hyundai Ioniq 9, which was recognized as the best in the “Premium” category.
Electric Trend
Four out of the five competition winners are electric vehicles, indicating the growing popularity of electric cars in Europe. This trend contributes to the increasing influence of American manufacturers in the European market.
Absence of German Brands
This year, no German car made it to the list of winners. The closest contender was Skoda, which belongs to the Volkswagen Group but is a Czech brand.
These results may indicate a shift in priorities in the European market, where electric technologies and innovations are becoming key success factors. The victories of American brands also underscore that the globalization of the automotive industry continues to gain momentum, and competition over quality and innovation is intensifying regardless of the manufacturers’ geographical origin.
