The New York International Auto Show will officially open to the public at the Javits Center in Manhattan on April 3. Prior to the opening, the organizers first announced the winners of the 2026 “World Car Awards”. The BMW electric vehicle iX3 was awarded the “Car of the Year” and also won the “World Car of the Year” award, making it the biggest winner of this year’s awards.
The World Car Awards aim to recognize outstanding performances in technology, design, and innovation in the global automotive industry. The selection process involved 98 automotive journalists from 33 countries who test drove and evaluated the vehicles before voting. The nominated models must be available in multiple markets and have a certain volume of production.
In this year’s selection, the iX3 stood out from contenders such as the Hyundai Palisade and the Nissan Leaf. The judges praised the vehicle for its leading electric power system, energy efficiency, handling performance, and sustainable design. The iX3 is also the first mass-produced vehicle on BMW’s new “Neue Klasse” platform, marking a significant milestone in the brand’s electrification strategy.
Mike Reichelt, the project manager of BMW’s “Next Generation” project, stated in an interview that the “Neue Klasse” platform underwent approximately five years of development, with comprehensive innovations in key areas including range, charging efficiency, and user experience. Features like the Panoramic iDrive interface and advanced driver assistance systems were introduced to address the main concerns of current electric vehicles, making consumers more inclined towards electric cars with no hesitation. He revealed that these improvements will gradually expand to the entire range of vehicles, with plans to introduce them to all BMW models by the end of 2027.
The design award was won by Mazda’s 6e/EZ-6, with Mazda’s chief designer Yoshito Iwauchi emphasizing that while many current electric vehicle designs focus on technology and high performance, his brand still values aesthetics as a core principle, striving to create vehicle designs that combine classic elements with emotions.
The performance car award was won by Hyundai’s Ioniq 6 N, showcasing excellent power and handling performance.
In the urban car category, the award went to the Firefly by Chinese automaker NIO, while the luxury car award was claimed by the American electric car brand Lucid Gravity.
The organizers stated that this year’s auto show will bring together major automakers from North America, Europe, and Asia to showcase the latest electric vehicles and innovative technologies, expecting to attract over a million visitors. Overall, the list of winners for 2026 reflects the prominence of electric vehicles in the global automotive industry, with major manufacturers continuing to accelerate technological innovations and product development.