The Malaysia Car of the Year (COTY) 2018 is an annual initiative by the Malaysia Automotive Institute (MAI) that highlights and celebrates the year’s best and most popular cars as well as recognising the personalities that have played key roles in elevating the automotive industry to its current standing.
The COTY 2018 not only awarded entry-level cars and premium limousines, but it is also enthusiast driven with a Hot Hatch of the Year category which the Volkswagen Golf GTi Mk7.5 took home the coveted title. The full list of winners is as below:
Entry Level Car of the Year – Perodua Myvi 1.5
Hot Hatch of the Year – Volkswagen Golf GTi Mk7.5
Pick-up Truck of the Year (Twin Cab) – Ford Ranger 2.2 WildTrak
Compact Crossover of the Year – Peugeot 3008 Active
Mid-size Crossover of the Year – Mazda CX-5 2.2 GLS SkyActiv-D 2WD
Premium Crossover of the Year – Mercedes-Benz GLC 200
MPV of the Year (Below RM200,000) – Kia Grand Carnival 2.2D SX
MPV of the Year (Above RM200,000) – Toyota Alphard 3.5
Entry Level SUV of the Year – Subaru XV 2.0i-P AWD
Mid-size SUV of the Year – Mitsubishi Outlander 2.4 4WD
Mid-size Premium SUV of the Year – Volvo XC60 T8 Inscription
Premium SUV of the Year – Mercedes-AMG GLC 43
Executive Sedan of the Year – Mercedes-Benz C 200 AMG Line
Premium Executive Sedan of the Year (Above RM300,000) – Mercedes-AMG C 43
Limousine of the Year – Mercedes-Benz S 450 L AMG Line
The nominees of the Malaysia COTY 2018 Awards were judged based on the coherence of exterior and interior design, technical specifications and engineering innovations for the car’s intended purpose, safety features and ratings, energy efficiency and environmental friendliness and overall value for money.
However, one car stood out among the rest and named as the Malaysia Car of the Year (COTY) 2018 which went to the Peugeot 3008 Active, joining over 60 other international awards the SUV has already received since its global market introduction in 2017. The 3008 went home with a hat trick that evening, earning the “Good Design Award” for its outstanding overall design.
Additionally, the COTY Awards also presented the COTY Lifetime Automotive Award to Prime Minister YAB Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamand, the father of the nation’s automotive industry. The Premier’s industrial vision for Malaysia pushed the formation of our first national car, Proton which stirred the countless component manufacturers that exist within the supply chain.
At the same award’s night, President of the Malaysia Automotive Association (MAA), Datuk Aishah Ahmad was honoured as 2018’s Automotive Personality of the Year, for her years of contribution as a prominent leading voice towards the development of the Malaysian automotive industry. MAA’s most recent stint was the organisation of the 2018 Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show.
Minister of International Trade and Industry, Datuk Darell Leiking also took the opportunity to announce that the Malaysia Automotive Institute will be rebranded as the Malaysia Automotive, Robotics and IoT Institute (MARii) which will expand the scope of the MITI agency towards enhancing the competitiveness of the automotive industry and overall mobility.
On the rebranding of MAI to MARii, CEO of MAI, Dato’ Madani Sahari commented: “The advancement of automotive technology will create a convergence with overall mobility towards a higher degree of automation and connectivity. This is expected to spur greater cross-functional applications in Advanced Manufacturing and Advanced IT, with robotics and IoT applications rapidly becoming a fundamental requirement particularly in achieving Industry 4.0 compliance. It is for this very reason MARii will be tasked to undertake the adoption of these two key areas to complement the development of the automotive industry.”
