Skoda Fabia Sedan is the first “AUTOBEST Among Emerging Markets” of Europe winner.
(November 30-th, 2001)
The check made car Skoda Fabia Sedan was voted “AUTOBEST AMONG EMERGING MARKETS” of Europe for 2002. The winner summed 213 points in front of Peugeot 307, with 169 points and Opel Corsa ranking no 3 with 161 points. In spite of the fact that only two jury members ranked Skoda as no 1, it performed very well to all the other jurors, taking enough points to be a clear winner. This is the first important international award for Fabia family and the best proof that Fabia Sedan is the most suitable car for the region.
The jury consisting in a panel of motoring journalists from Bulgaria, Croatia, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Macedonia Former Republic of Yugoslavia, Slovakia, Romania and Turkey 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 30 points (out of a total of 120) points available to be distributed among the 5 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 10 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-20 points- tends to become more and more important also for customers in the region.
“Needless to say that we are very proud to have received the “COMPANYBEST AMONG EMERGING MARKETS” award for our marketing efforts in Eastern Central Europe. It is clearly our strategy to increase our market penetration and to bring Western Technology to these markets and we will not lessen our efforts to so over the foreseeable” stated Tassilo Peyrer-Heimstatt, Executive Vice President of OMV company.
“Dr. Piech, feels greatly honored for being elected for the “MANBEST AMONG EMERGING MARKETS” of Europe award for 2001.” stated Rupert Stadler, the Director of General Secretariat of VW Group.
Mr. Emanuel Roldan, Deputy General Manger of Automobile Dacia, a member of Renault Group, expressed the appreciation for the “ECOBEST AMONG EMERGING MARKETS” of Europe award for 2001. He added the intention of Renault to continue the efforts for developing the activities in the region.
“I am deeply grateful for this award” said in front of the audience, Ryan James Tutak, the first winner of the “MEDIABEST AMONG EMERGING MARKETS” of Europe award for 2001.
The “AUTOBEST AWARDS” festivity took place in the Titulescu hall from Romexpo Conference Center, Bucharest. More than 300 guests from the region attended the event. PRO TV, the Romanian leading TV channel broadcasted live the moment of winner announcement. “We are very happy to start this project important for both motoring people and industry. Is the first time when a panel of journalists designed a competition for the main customer base of emerging markets of Europe. Bucharest was a perfect host for the first awards ceremony” said Dan Vardie, Chairman of the Jury.
Two new more countries from the region will join the jury in 2002. One year after, AUTOBEST jury is planning to have another four members from the countries represented at that time. In 2005 the Jury will invite two more countries to be represented and four journalists will join the group. At that time, Jury will likely consist in 18 journalists from 12 countries. The AUTOBEST Assembly decided also to explore new ways of national representation in the jury for incoming years. In this process, a big number of motoring journalists from the region will add their contribution to develop the project.
