AUTOBEST awards granted during an impressive festivity
The 5th edition of AutoBest took place in Kiev, Ukraine
(February 2nd, 2006)
Various very famous Ukrainian artists performed astonishing show during the AutoBest ceremony, held in Kiev, Ukraine. Following the tradition, AUTOBEST International Jury grants the awards in different country every year. Last year, the awards festivity was held in Bucharest, Romania.
The Kiev ceremony definitively placed AUTOBEST as the second largest event of the European automotive media. Each award was introduced by a special play, emphasizing the core features and the essence of the prize. Whether it was mime symbolizing richness of the inner world and value of the personality, or equilibrists expressing safety and trust, or ballet and acrobatics standing for team spirit, trust and mutual support, the entire event captured the interest of everyone present at the exquisite Lyubava Hall.
AUTOBEST 2006 proved to be a very prestigious event, with important guests coming from the automotive industry all over the world. Ukrainian personalities as well as international top executives from the most important companies in the automotive field attended the gala in Kiev.
The great winner of the evening was Kia Rio, declared AUTOBEST 2006. With a total of 706 points, Kia Rio overtook Ford Focus II, which scored 659 points, and Renault Clio III, that came third with a total of 599 points. A ballet group that performed a spectacular dance introduced the award.
Regarding this award, Mr. Dan Vardie, Chairman of AutoBest Jury, stated: “It is once again proved that AutoBest is an objective competition, which addresses all automobile manufacturers that operate in Europe, without any geo-political limits. It is an award governed by the “best buy” philosophy of the classic buyers in emerging countries of Europe. It is more a rational choice than an emotional one. The Jury must respect at least 13 criteria in its decision. Rio was the natural outcome of this selection process, as natural as the previous choice of the winner, Dacia Logan.” Mr. J. C. Lievens, Kia Europe President, received the award: “This is a historical moment for Kia Motors Europe.
The award comes in a very important moment for the brand’s evolution. The new Rio is a huge step ahead; it is built with the latest technologies and with very high quality. This award is even more important to me because I brought my own personal contribution in projecting the new Rio. It is also my child. AutoBest is extremely important for the image of Kia. We shall use the award in all our Rio campaigns, throughout Europe.”
One of the most influential companies within the automotive market of Ukraine, UkrAVTO Corp., won COMPANYBEST 2005. It is the first Eastern-European country to ever win this award. Mr. Tariel Vasadze, UkrAVTO President, declared: “It is a huge honor, an appreciation of our efforts to develop the automotive industry in the region and the car business. We are very happy to have played an important part in driving Ukraine and other countries in the region ahead.”
For his continuous and sustained endeavor in developing the Fiat Auto company in the region, Mr. Alfredo Altavilla was declared MANBEST of 2005. “It is probably the European jury with the most impressive development in the last years, its importance for the European industry and for the car customers growing constantly. It is a great honor to me to receive this award”, Mr. Alfredo Altavilla, Tofas CEO, stated.
DESIGNBEST 2005 was granted to Peugeot Automobile for the initiative of organizing a design contest. “Right after the Paris Show, we open the contest to anyone who offers interesting projects. For the previous edition, there were 3,800 projects competing, out of which 42 where only from Romania”, Mr. Vincent Simon, Peugeot representative, declared.
This year’s ECOBEST award went to Michelin Challenge Bibendum for promoting new technologies of alternative propulsion with reduced fuel consumption. Financial Times won MEDIABEST 2005 for the constant attention paid to the automotive field development in the region.
SAFETYBEST 2005 was Volvo Car Corporation for inventing the safety belt.
“AutoBest is the expression of new Europe that we are all building. Today, the emerging countries represent hundreds of millions of consumers that need mobility and specific criteria in the decision for buying a car. AutoBest is a fair contest, both to the automotive industry and the car buyer. It is a real best buy guide. The consumer is the king and has the right to know what he is buying”, Mr. Dan Vardie, Jury Chairman, concluded.
