The electrical market is shaking the European and also the German automotive world. Because in the past, models like the VW Golf, a BMW 3 Series or the Mercedes S-Class were not only top dogs in their classes when it came to approvals. Even at award ceremonies, German models sometimes only play a minor role.
With its innovative ID family, Volkswagen is currently betting everything on the electric card. Here and there there is still a playground for plug-in hybrids, but the combustion engines have not played a significant role in the public image for some time. With other German manufacturers such as Audi, Porsche, BMW or Mercedes, things are not much different. In this context, many people love to decorate their new models with laurels that were harvested at award ceremonies. In Germany in particular, the German Car of the Year Award is the most prestigious award that can be tapped for brand and model. High-ranking journalists vote on the vehicles of the year and choose the winners in their classes. Unthinkable years ago and still a surprise today: for brands like Volkswagen or Mercedes, it is no longer even enough to win a class here. The only representatives who hold up the flags of the Autonation are Porsche and Audi – with particularly sporty vehicles such as a Porsche 911 GT3 or the Audi E-Tron GT.
The other categories will be dominated by foreign manufacturers this year, when the tide has turned more than ever in the direction of electromobility. If you could still expect the new Peugeot 308 to prevail against its competitors in the compact class up to 25,000 euros, the Kia EV6 won the premium models up to 50,000 euros. He won ahead of the also electric Hyundai Ioniq 5 and German representatives such as VW ID.4, Audi Q4 E-Tron, Skoda Enyaq or the Mercedes C-Class. A Korean also prevailed in the New Energy class of vehicles with alternative drives. The Hyundai Ioniq 5, sister model of the Kia EV6, which took second place here, did not give European competitors a chance, especially from the Volkswagen Group, a BMW iX / i4 or a Mercedes EQS. “The Kia EV6 is the first Kia to be based on the new E-GMP electrical platform, and also the first model to be designed according to the new Kia design philosophy. It combines an emotional design with high performance. We are proud that the work of the dynamic Kia team is recognized with the award “German Premium Car of the Year”, “said Luc Donckerwolke, Chief Creative Officer of the Hyundai Motor Group.
There were victories for German representatives with the Audi E-Tron GT alone in the luxury class over 50,000 euros and in the performance class, which the puristic Porsche 911 GT3 with a boxer engine without electrification won anything but surprising. “With the 911 GT3, our team in Weissach around Andreas Preuninger has again succeeded in creating a highly emotional vehicle – with significantly increased performance and at the same time improved suitability for everyday use. For me, the GT3 embodies many typical Porsche properties – a tangible proximity to motorsport, driving fun and emotionality” , says Porsche 911 series manager Dr. Frank-Steffen Walliser.
So it fits into the picture that the electric mid-range sedan of the Tesla Model 3 became the best-selling vehicle in all of Europe for the first time with all drive types in September 2021. The reason for the success of the Model 3 is not just its own strength, but the weakness of the rest of the market, which is due in particular to the lack of chips. Tesla is significantly less affected by the lack of chips than the European competition.
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