Robert Bosch is the “COMPANYBEST of 2003”
Motoring writer legend Paul Frere voted “MEDIABEST of 2003”
(September 17-th, 2003)
The new Fiat Panda, Ford Fusion, Hyundai Getz, Mazda 2, Nissan Micra, Opel Meriva and Renault Megane II Sedan been nominated on the final list of the AUTOBEST 2004 competition. Members of the Jury coming from 9 emerging countries of Europe proposed more than 16 models for the final voting process scheduled for December 4-th.
The German Robert Bosch firm was voted as the “COMPANYBEST of 2003” for the important investments done inside the East and Central European region. Jean Martin Folz, Peugeot Citroen PSA CEO and Fujio Cho, CEO of Toyota Motor Company will share the “MANBEST of 2003” award, The AUTOBEST Jury was selecting the two executives for their decision to make a joint small car and to build a factory in the region.
After many years of developing an extremely interesting program in a many countries, Ford Conservation Awards program was nominated the “ECOBEST of 2003”. Skoda Design Center, one of the very few design studios from the region was prized with “DESIGNBEST of 2003”.
Corrado Provera, the Peugeot WRC rally team leader and a very popular face in the motorsport, was elected “SPORTSBEST of 2003” for his outstanding work at the helm of the world rally champion team. The motoring writer legend, Paul Frere was nominated as “MEDIABEST of 2003” for his entire career and support for the motoring journalism in the East Europe region.
For the first time, AUTOBEST Jury introduced “SAFETYBEST” award for outstanding improvements in the safety area. Renault, a real world record breaker, with no less than 5 cars with 5 stars in EURO NCAP crash tests was just the normal choice.
All the awards will be handled in a ceremony in Istanbul, Turkey on December 4-Th. More than 1000 guests, including top executives from the auto industry, media from more than 25 countries, motorsport celebrities, TV stars and politicians, will come to the first international motoring event held by Turkey. The festivity in Istanbul is the III-rd AUTOBEST ceremony, after the successful events in 2001, Bucharest, Romania and last year in Sofia, Bulgaria.
AUTOBEST organisation is the only international Jury focusing on the emerging markets countries. To become an AUTOBEST winner, a car must be the best offer for the average customer in the region. Price, service network, spare parts distribution and versatility are the most important criteria in the voting process. Design, new high tech gadgets are coming on the second importance in the process. AUTOBEST is the only international Jury using a complex matrix of 13 criteria in deciding the winner. Last year, Citroen C3 emerged as the AUTOBEST 2003.
The AUTOBEST Jury is also paying attention to the efforts that automotive industry is taking. Investments, new working opportunities for the population, spending funds for ecological initiatives, putting the East of Europe on wheels are carefully checked and appreciated by the Jury.
For this year festivity, AUTOBEST members of the Jury are coming from 9 countries in the region and represent a virtual market with more than 100 mil people. During the festivity in Istanbul the 10-th country represented will be introduced and will become effective member of AUTOBEST Jury on January 1-st, 2004.
