Chennai, December 14, 2017: The 13th Indian Car of the Year (ICOTY) and the 11th Indian Motorcycle of the Year (IMOTY) Awards were handed out at Taj Diplomatic Enclave in New Delhi in the presence of experts and enthusiasts from the Indian automobile industry. Kickstarted by a rollicking performance from fusion rock band Indian Ocean,the evening celebrated excellence by awarding Hyundai Verna and KTM 390 Duke as the Indian Car of the Year 2018 and Indian Motorcycle of the year 2018, respectively. As a sponsor, JK Tyre has been the pillar of these awards since its inception, leaving no stone unturned to making them a sign of credibility and trust coveted by the industry.

Dr. Raghupati Singhania, Chairman & Managing Director, JK Tyre & Industries Limited, presented the awards to the winning teams with Mr. Bob Rupani, Chairman, ICOTY 2018, and Mr. Aspi Bhathena, Chairman, IMOTY 2018.

Congratulating the winners, Dr. Singhania said, “The prestigious ICOTY and IMOTY awards have become synonymous with excellence in the Indian automobile industry, honouring cars and bikes for now for over a decade. Every year these coveted awards  recognise  the best in class efforts  in engineering, design, cost-effectiveness, adaptability to local conditions and above all customer satisfaction. As the proud associate of these awards since their inception in 2005, JK Tyre has always endeavoured to take these awards beyond mere plaudits to a true recognition of merit.

I congratulate Hyundai Verna and KTM 390 Dukefor being recognised as the Indian Car of the Year 2018 and Indian Motorcycle of the year 2018. Their commendable efforts bring to the customer best-in-class cars and motorcycles, which have been selected by automobile experts who constitute the esteemed jury after a critical scrutiny. I would also like to congratulate all contenders for putting their sincere effort in producing these remarkable vehicles.”

This year’s awards judged the best car and the best motorcycle from a plethora of new launches witnessed throughout the year. The winner of the ICOTY, Hyundai Verna, had to compete with 15 other vehicles, who were all put through a series of rigorous tests. The winner of IMOTY, KTM 390 Duke, had to fight it out with 12 other motorbikes. Vehicles were evaluated on set parameters such as price, fuel economy, styling, comfort, safety, performance, practicality, technological innovation, value for money and suitability for Indian driving and riding conditions.

RepresentingHyundai Verna, the winner of ICOTY’18, Mr. Y K Koo, Managing Director & CEO, Hyundai Motor India Limited said, “ICOTY has always been a pioneer of the Indian auto awards and winning it is a special achievement. Our team has put in a lot of effortsin creating the best vehicle for our customers. It feels great that the jury have recognised our efforts and we would also like to thank our valuable customers who have loved our car over others. It is always a great feeling to have so many competitors, all of whom have brought out beautiful cars this year. “

TheKTM 390 Duke, winner of IMOTY’18 won among a list of contenders and stood out for its performance and styling. Accepting the award, Mr Amit Nandi, President, Bajaj Auto& Head for KTM Motorcycles in India, said, “We are honoured that our motorcycleKTM 390 Duke has won the prestigious IMOTY 2018. Our R&D team has put in a lot of hard work in creating a motorcycle, which is not only performance-driven but also has the styling and practicality suitable for Indian riding conditions. Winning IMOTY’18 gives us all the motivation to put in more effort to bring more more performance motorcycles in India.”

Mr. Bob Rupani, Founder Jury member, ICOTY, and Chairman, ICOTY 2018, congratulated the winners, “ICOTY has had a long and eventful journey. Along the way, these awards have become standards against which the industry measures itself now. For me personally, that is a feeling of immense pride. These awards recognise the innovation and hard work put in by auto manufacturers in creating vehicles that are loved by consumers and made for Indian roads. I congratulate Hyundai for developing a car, which impressed the jury by its amazing performance and styling, not to mention becoming a darling of the people in such a short time.“

Mr. Aspi Bhathena, Chairman, IMOTY 2018, said, “The jury had a difficult time selecting the winner for IMOTY 2018. There was neck-to-neck competition among all 12contenders. But, it was a refreshing headache to have, as all motorcycles offered performance, comfort and economy. KTM 390 Duke stood out for its handling, style and on-road performance, which made it the winner of IMOTY 2018.”

 

Adding zing to the cold Delhi evening, fusion rock band Indian Ocean treated the guests to their chart-topping numbers, including the very popular ‘Desh Mera’from Peepli Live. The rockers brought their flavour to a sprightly crowd cheering every announcement and swaying to the songs. In a surprise move, Mr. Yogendra Pratap from Auto Today and Mr. Shubhabrata Marmar from Overdrive were announced as the Chairman for ICOTY and IMOTY’19.

 

Every year, representatives from leading automobile magazines in India constitute the jury of ICOTYand IMOTY, including Auto Today, The Hindu Business Line,Overdrive, AutoX, BBC Topgear India, Bike India and Car India, Evo India, Man’s World and Motoring World. The jury comprise experts who have miles of vehicle testing and driving experience and are well-versed in the inner mechanisms of cars and motorcycles.

 

The automobile industry’s top officials, members of the media, eminent representatives of industrial bodies, and car and bike enthusiasts were part of the award function. It was an evening of both knowledge sharing and rejoicing. ICOTY and IMOTY are the most prestigious awards in the Indian Automobile Industry. They have been inspired by the American Car of the Year, European Car of the Year and Japanese Car of the Year awards.

Past winners

ICOTY

• Maruti Suzuki Swift (2006)
• Honda Civic (2007)
• Hyundai i10 (2008)
• Honda City (2009)
• Tata Nano (2010)
• Ford Figo (2011)
• Maruti Suzuki Swift (2012)
• Renault Duster (2013)
• Hyundai i10 Grand (2014)
• Hyundai Elite i20 (2015)
• Hyundai Creta (2016)
• Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza (2017)

 

IMOTY:

• Bajaj Pulsar 220 DTS-Fi (2008)
• Yamaha R15 (2009)
• Kawasaki Ninja 250R (2010)
• Honda CB Twister (2011)
• Honda CBR 250R (2012)
• KTM Duke 200 (2013)
• Royal Enfield Continental (2014)
• Harley-Davidson Street 750 (2015)
• Yamaha YZF R3 (2016)
• TVS Apache RTR 200 4V (2017)

 

About JK Tyre & Industries Limited:

 

Part of the JK Organisation, JK Tyre & Industries Ltd is a leading tyre manufacturer in India and amongst the top 25 manufacturers in the world with a wide range of products catering to diverse business segments in the automobile industry. JK Tyre is the only tyre manufacturer in India to be included in the list of Superbrand in 2017, the sixth time the honour has been conferred upon the company.

 

JK Tyre has global presence in 100 countries across six continents, backed by production support from 12 plants – 9 in India and 3 in Mexico. Currently, the capacity across all its plants is about 35 million tyres per annum. In April 2016 JK Tyre acquired Cavendish India Limited from Birla Tyres. While acquisition added three modern plants to its portfolio taking the total count to 12, it helped the tyre major foray into the two/three wheeler segment as well.

 

Pioneers of radial technology, JK Tyre produced the first radial tyre in 1977 and is currently the market leader in Truck Bus Radial segment. With over three decades of technological innovation, JK Tyre offers tyre for entire range of passenger and commercial vehicles, starting from a 3 kg two-wheeler tyre to a 3.5 ton OTR tyre.

 

JK Tyre & Industries Ltd has a strong network of 4000 dealers and over 270 dedicated outlets branded as Steel-Wheels & has over 35 Truck Wheels providing complete solutions to Truck Tyre customers.

ICOTY& IMOTY 2018 light up a Delhi evening: Hyundai Verna is Car of the Year and KTM 390 Duke gets Motorcycle of the Year

 

Chennai, December 14, 2017: The 13th Indian Car of the Year (ICOTY) and the 11th Indian Motorcycle of the Year (IMOTY) Awards were handed out at Taj Diplomatic Enclave in New Delhi in the presence of experts and enthusiasts from the Indian automobile industry. Kickstarted by a rollicking performance from fusion rock band Indian Ocean,the evening celebrated excellence by awarding Hyundai Verna and KTM 390 Duke as the Indian Car of the Year 2018 and Indian Motorcycle of the year 2018, respectively. As a sponsor, JK Tyre has been the pillar of these awards since its inception, leaving no stone unturned to making them a sign of credibility and trust coveted by the industry.

Dr. Raghupati Singhania, Chairman & Managing Director, JK Tyre & Industries Limited, presented the awards to the winning teams with Mr. Bob Rupani, Chairman, ICOTY 2018, and Mr. Aspi Bhathena, Chairman, IMOTY 2018.

Congratulating the winners, Dr. Singhania said, “The prestigious ICOTY and IMOTY awards have become synonymous with excellence in the Indian automobile industry, honouring cars and bikes for now for over a decade. Every year these coveted awards  recognise  the best in class efforts  in engineering, design, cost-effectiveness, adaptability to local conditions and above all customer satisfaction. As the proud associate of these awards since their inception in 2005, JK Tyre has always endeavoured to take these awards beyond mere plaudits to a true recognition of merit.

I congratulate Hyundai Verna and KTM 390 Dukefor being recognised as the Indian Car of the Year 2018 and Indian Motorcycle of the year 2018. Their commendable efforts bring to the customer best-in-class cars and motorcycles, which have been selected by automobile experts who constitute the esteemed jury after a critical scrutiny. I would also like to congratulate all contenders for putting their sincere effort in producing these remarkable vehicles.”

This year’s awards judged the best car and the best motorcycle from a plethora of new launches witnessed throughout the year. The winner of the ICOTY, Hyundai Verna, had to compete with 15 other vehicles, who were all put through a series of rigorous tests. The winner of IMOTY, KTM 390 Duke, had to fight it out with 12 other motorbikes. Vehicles were evaluated on set parameters such as price, fuel economy, styling, comfort, safety, performance, practicality, technological innovation, value for money and suitability for Indian driving and riding conditions.

RepresentingHyundai Verna, the winner of ICOTY’18, Mr. Y K Koo, Managing Director & CEO, Hyundai Motor India Limited said, “ICOTY has always been a pioneer of the Indian auto awards and winning it is a special achievement. Our team has put in a lot of effortsin creating the best vehicle for our customers. It feels great that the jury have recognised our efforts and we would also like to thank our valuable customers who have loved our car over others. It is always a great feeling to have so many competitors, all of whom have brought out beautiful cars this year. “

TheKTM 390 Duke, winner of IMOTY’18 won among a list of contenders and stood out for its performance and styling. Accepting the award, Mr Amit Nandi, President, Bajaj Auto& Head for KTM Motorcycles in India, said, “We are honoured that our motorcycleKTM 390 Duke has won the prestigious IMOTY 2018. Our R&D team has put in a lot of hard work in creating a motorcycle, which is not only performance-driven but also has the styling and practicality suitable for Indian riding conditions. Winning IMOTY’18 gives us all the motivation to put in more effort to bring more more performance motorcycles in India.”

Mr. Bob Rupani, Founder Jury member, ICOTY, and Chairman, ICOTY 2018, congratulated the winners, “ICOTY has had a long and eventful journey. Along the way, these awards have become standards against which the industry measures itself now. For me personally, that is a feeling of immense pride. These awards recognise the innovation and hard work put in by auto manufacturers in creating vehicles that are loved by consumers and made for Indian roads. I congratulate Hyundai for developing a car, which impressed the jury by its amazing performance and styling, not to mention becoming a darling of the people in such a short time.“

Mr. Aspi Bhathena, Chairman, IMOTY 2018, said, “The jury had a difficult time selecting the winner for IMOTY 2018. There was neck-to-neck competition among all 12contenders. But, it was a refreshing headache to have, as all motorcycles offered performance, comfort and economy. KTM 390 Duke stood out for its handling, style and on-road performance, which made it the winner of IMOTY 2018.”

 

Adding zing to the cold Delhi evening, fusion rock band Indian Ocean treated the guests to their chart-topping numbers, including the very popular ‘Desh Mera’from Peepli Live. The rockers brought their flavour to a sprightly crowd cheering every announcement and swaying to the songs. In a surprise move, Mr. Yogendra Pratap from Auto Today and Mr. Shubhabrata Marmar from Overdrive were announced as the Chairman for ICOTY and IMOTY’19.

 

Every year, representatives from leading automobile magazines in India constitute the jury of ICOTYand IMOTY, including Auto Today, The Hindu Business Line,Overdrive, AutoX, BBC Topgear India, Bike India and Car India, Evo India, Man’s World and Motoring World. The jury comprise experts who have miles of vehicle testing and driving experience and are well-versed in the inner mechanisms of cars and motorcycles.

 

The automobile industry’s top officials, members of the media, eminent representatives of industrial bodies, and car and bike enthusiasts were part of the award function. It was an evening of both knowledge sharing and rejoicing. ICOTY and IMOTY are the most prestigious awards in the Indian Automobile Industry. They have been inspired by the American Car of the Year, European Car of the Year and Japanese Car of the Year awards.

Past winners

ICOTY

• Maruti Suzuki Swift (2006)
• Honda Civic (2007)
• Hyundai i10 (2008)
• Honda City (2009)
• Tata Nano (2010)
• Ford Figo (2011)
• Maruti Suzuki Swift (2012)
• Renault Duster (2013)
• Hyundai i10 Grand (2014)
• Hyundai Elite i20 (2015)
• Hyundai Creta (2016)
• Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza (2017)

 

IMOTY:

• Bajaj Pulsar 220 DTS-Fi (2008)
• Yamaha R15 (2009)
• Kawasaki Ninja 250R (2010)
• Honda CB Twister (2011)
• Honda CBR 250R (2012)
• KTM Duke 200 (2013)
• Royal Enfield Continental (2014)
• Harley-Davidson Street 750 (2015)
• Yamaha YZF R3 (2016)
• TVS Apache RTR 200 4V (2017)

 

About JK Tyre & Industries Limited:

 

Part of the JK Organisation, JK Tyre & Industries Ltd is a leading tyre manufacturer in India and amongst the top 25 manufacturers in the world with a wide range of products catering to diverse business segments in the automobile industry. JK Tyre is the only tyre manufacturer in India to be included in the list of Superbrand in 2017, the sixth time the honour has been conferred upon the company.

 

JK Tyre has global presence in 100 countries across six continents, backed by production support from 12 plants – 9 in India and 3 in Mexico. Currently, the capacity across all its plants is about 35 million tyres per annum. In April 2016 JK Tyre acquired Cavendish India Limited from Birla Tyres. While acquisition added three modern plants to its portfolio taking the total count to 12, it helped the tyre major foray into the two/three wheeler segment as well.

 

Pioneers of radial technology, JK Tyre produced the first radial tyre in 1977 and is currently the market leader in Truck Bus Radial segment. With over three decades of technological innovation, JK Tyre offers tyre for entire range of passenger and commercial vehicles, starting from a 3 kg two-wheeler tyre to a 3.5 ton OTR tyre.

 

JK Tyre & Industries Ltd has a strong network of 4000 dealers and over 270 dedicated outlets branded as Steel-Wheels & has over 35 Truck Wheels providing complete solutions to Truck Tyre customers.