The ID.4 becomes the fifth Volkswagen in history to claim this international prestigious automotive award.
The Volkswagen ID.4 has recently been crowned World Car of the Year 2021. Succeeding the Kia Telluride that won this prestigious international automotive award last year, this all-electric crossover becomes the fifth VW to clinch this title since the contest began back in 2004.
An award that is only eligible for cars that are offered in at least two continents and manufactured in quantities exceeding 10,000 units per year, the ID.4 has beaten out the other top two finalists in the form of the Honda e and the Toyota Yaris for the 2021 title. The other cars that among the top 10 in the running for this honourable accolade this year included the Kia Sorento and K5, BMW 4-Series and 2-Series Gran Coupe, Audi A3, Mazda MX-30 and Mercedes-Benz GLA.
Presided over by a panel of 90 international auto journalists from 24 countries, this all-electric crossover was clinched the top prize due to its ‘environmentally friendliness of no direct emissions as well as the innovative features of the ID.4’. The latter of which is evidenced by the fact that this Volkswagen is not only available with tech like augmented reality head-up display, Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) and Travel Assist, but also the fact that VW claims to be the ‘first provider in the volume segment’ in offering over-the-air updates so that the ID.4 will be consistently up to date.
Speaking further regarding the ID.4’s 2021 World Car of the Year win, CEO Volkswagen Cars Ralf Brandstätter stated: “We are particularly pleased about our ID.4 being named World Car of the Year. Not only because it is one of the most important car awards in the world – but because the jury also honored a great idea and a great team. The first ID. model for the key markets of Europe, China and the U.S. carries our electric offensive around the world. A convincing car, a great idea – and the “World Car of the Year” award? That goes well together for us!”
Aside from the Volkswagen ID.4 clinching the overall title this year, 4 other accolades were also given out by the World Car Awards jury for 2021. The new Mercedes-Benz S-Class took home the trophy for the World Luxury Car category, while the Porsche 911 Turbo clinched the World Performance Car title.
Land Rover meanwhile managed to win the World Car Design of the Year 2021 with its new Defender. And while the Honda e did not clinch the overall title this year nor the World Car Design of the Year award, it nevertheless walked away with the top honour for the World Urban Car category.
PRESS RELEASE: The “World Car of the Year 2021” is a Volkswagen: The new fully electric ID.4 prevailed over the strong international competition at the international World Car Awards. The World Car Awards are presented by more than 90 international motor journalists from 24 countries, who vote on the best innovations on the world market.
We are particularly pleased about our ID.4 being named World Car of the Year”, says Ralf Brandstätter, CEO of Volkswagen passenger cars. “Not only because it is one of the most important car awards in the world – but because the jury also honored a great idea and a great team. The first ID. Model for the key markets of Europe, China and the U.S. carries our electric offensive around the world. A convincing car, a great idea – and the World Car of the Year award? That goes well together for us!”
Vehicles that are eligible for the World Car of the Year award must be manufactured in at least 10,000 units per year and be offered on at least two continents.
“The World Car of the Year award marks a great success for our entire ID. Team,” says Thomas Ulbrich, Board Member for Development at the Volkswagen brand. “We have succeeded in developing a car that starts the system change to e-mobility in the world’s most important segment of compact SUVs and offers excellent everyday usability. With it, the ID.3 and the upcoming ID. models, we are making innovative electric mobility in the volume market something that can be experienced by everyone.”
The jury praised the environmentally friendliness of no direct emissions as well as the innovative features of the ID.4. For instance, the innovative augmented reality head-up display is optionally available. It can project important information onto the windscreen such as turn arrows of the navigation system. The driver sees this information as a three-dimensional, staggered image at an apparent distance of three to ten metres in front of the vehicle. This means that the display is perfectly integrated into the real outside world. When Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) or Travel Assist (optional) is active, the vehicle in front of the ID.4 is highlighted with a luminous marking in the head-up display from a certain speed to be able to keep the required distance.
The ID.4 also sets standards in digitization. In this way, the car can receive regular updates and new functions “over the air”. Volkswagen is the first provider in the volume segment to offer this from the summer. The vehicle is always up to date. This ability is also an important requirement for enabling new business models.
With this at the 17th edition of the World Car of the Year award, the ID.4 continues the success story of Volkswagen at this contest. It is not only well received by the trade press, but also by customers. Volkswagen plans to deliver around 150,000 ID.4s worldwide this year. The e-offensive is a core element of Volkswagen’s ACCELERATE strategy. The company plans to bring at least one new all-electric model to market every year.
All Volkswagen winners at the World Car Awards:
2009: Golf (World Car of the Year)
2010: Polo (World Car of the Year)
2012: up! (World Car of the Year)
2013: Golf (World Car of the Year)
2021: ID.4 (World Car of the Year)
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