SUBANG JAYA: The Mazda 2 was crowned as "Car of the Year" (COTY) at the New Straits Times-Maybank COTY 2015 Awards Night.
The car also took home the “Compact Car of the Year” category award while the Mazda MX-5 bagged the “Sports Car of the Year” title.
Panel of COTY 2015 Judges chairman and NST Cars, Bikes & Trucks editor Yamin Vong said the Mazda 2 provides an impressive alternative option to what the Honda City achieved last year.
"The Mazda 2 scored high in refinement, the use of premium materials, a sharp design and innovative powertrain with its SkyActiv technology,” he said.
Meanwhile the “Automotive Man of the Year” title went to Mercedes-Benz Malaysia president and chief executive officer Roland Folger for leading the premium carmaker to greater heights by introducing a fresh and vibrant portfolio of models as well as local assembly of competitively priced hybrid models that took advantage of duty exemptions, under the National Automotive Policy.
New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd (NSTP) chairman Tan Sri Mohamed Jawhar Hassan said a panel of five judges comprising motoring journalists test-drove the nominated cars for the COTY awards and voted on the best car for each category after collaborative deliberations.
"The evaluation criteria includes styling, value for money, comfort and ergonomics, performance, driving characteristics, safety, emotional appeal and after-sales service."
The highest scoring vehicle in each category, he said, would win the award for “Best in Class” while the Car of the Year would be selected from the shortlist of the 16 category winners.
"These awards recognize the innovations and achievements of not just manufacturers in the automotive industry, but also the movers and shakers behind them," he said.
Guest-of-honour Deputy International Trade and Industry minister Datuk Lee Chee Leong said despite global economic challenges, the future of Malaysia's automotive industry remained bright.
"While the government undertakes necessary measures to spur the automative industry's development, industry players need to be more aggressive and proactive to remain competitive and resilient as well as seek new market opportunities," he said.
Maybank Consumer Finance head (community financial services) Abdul Razak Mohd Nordin said COTY had raised awareness on the quality of automobiles in the present market.
"The average Malaysian consumer is spoilt for choice through the availability of a wide range of marquees that come with some of the best features and safety standards in the world.
"Consumer demand for better features and greater efficiency in their automobiles are spurring the local automotive industry to keep on improving itself through innovation and technology," he said.
Also present at the event were NSTP chief executive officer Datuk Mohammad Azlan Abdullah, NSTP group managing editor Datuk Abdul Jalil Hamid, NST group editor Mustapha Kamil Janor and Malaysia Automotive Institute chief executive officer Madani Sahari.