Fiat Panda is the “AUTOBEST of 2004” among the emerging markets of Europe
Ukraine is joining AUTOBEST, as 10-th country in the Jury
(December 05-th, 2003)
The new Fiat Panda was voted “AUTOBEST 2004”. The winner summed 474 points in front of Opel Meriva, with 389 points and Renault Megane II Sedan ranking no 3 with 381 points. 3 members of the Jury selected Panda as no 1 (for full results, see the annex) but other 3 voted Meriva as no 1. Megane was received also a clear no1 position. Two members of the Jury has the same two cars- Megane II and Panda- sharing the position no 1.
“The new Panda has strengths recommending the car as the best buy car for the AUTOBEST type of customer. Has an excellent price attack, incredible interior space and good dealers network in the European emerging markets. Opel Meriva and Renault Megane II, two other excellent automobiles for the customers in the region, proudly join the podium.” declared Dan Vardie, Chairman of the Jury.
The Jury took into consideration 13 criteria in order to vote the winner. Each of these criteria amounts a specific number of points reflecting a different importance in the final vote of each car. Price, with 60 points (out of a total of 240) points available to be distributed among the 7 finalists, is the most important. Other sensitive issues for the region like distribution network, service and spare parts availability, consumption and versatility and boot capacity is counting for 20 points each. In total, all these specific criteria for the customers in the region ranks for more than a half of the total number of points. Other criteria common for all European countries, new technologies, handling, dynamics, environmental friendly are less important than the first category. The exception, design-30 points- tends to become more and more important also for customers in the region.
The third “AUTOBEST AWARDS” festivity, initially planned for December 4-th, to be held in Istanbul, Turkey, was canceled. Because of the terrorists attacks there, no security was possible to be guaranteed by the local authorities. Consequently, the AUTOBEST organization is looking for alternative solutions.
Starting January 1-st, 2004, Oleg Vasylevskyy, motoring writer of Ukraine and the editor of the new AUTO BILD magazine in Kiev is the 10-th member of AUTOBEST Jury.
AUTOBEST Jury members are thanking to the readers from all around the region encouraging the project and the PR responsible from the automotive industry providing all the support in organizing the in-depth meetings and drive tests of the new products.
