AUTOFORUM - Informed and innovative

COTY announces new title sponsor

Sep 20, 2018 Car Of The Year, COTYm SAGMJ, Cars, Motoring, AutoTrader


The SA Car of the Year (SACOTY) competition has announced that it will be undergoing "a digital media injection" - this as AutoTrader takes over the title sponsorship. 


As George Mienie, AutoTrader CEO explains: "Partnering with the South African Car of the Year competition is an opportunity for us to add value to the motoring industry, in a variety of new ways. It is the most reputable, prestigious and longest running motoring award in the country. We’re excited to tackle this new opportunity.”

 

SACOTY was founded by the South African Guild of Motoring Journalists (SAGMJ) in 1986, while its new sponsor's 26 years of experience is expected to result in a more innovative platform, digital platform.

 
Innovation planned for the 2019 competition includes the introduction of individual categories alongside one overall winner; a re-engineered qualifying period to ensure the bulk of the new releases in September are included; and the all important inclusion of the consumer vote, made possible by AutoTrader’s in-market car shopper audience.
 
“The consumer ultimately votes with their wallets, and we aligned with the Guild in our desire to include this important element to the competition” adds Angelique Lynch, AutoTrader Marketing Director.
 
With a judging process based on both rigorous judge selection - the competition uses a minimum of 22 judges chosen by voting, peer, and industry-wide selection, across the SAGMJ’s 300 plus membership; and relentless judging criteria - cars are personally scored on between 10 and 12 factors, test driven on track and road, and verified by each judge within a set time period - the SACOTY is respected across the globe. 
 
“The South African Car Of the Year competition remains about excellence and our jury has always reflected that sentiment; it takes a minimum of 5 years for any journalist to be eligible for jury duty” said Rubin Van Niekerk, Chairman of the South African Guild of Motoring Journalists.

Back