The nine finalists for the North American Car, Truck, and Utility Vehicle of the Year awards have been announced, and five of them are all electric. In addition, two more are offered with a hybrid powertrain, and only two exclusively feature an internal combustion engine.
Each of the three awards categories have three finalists, chosen from a field of a total of 52 eligible vehicles. Every segment features at least one EV, and all three vehicles in the utility field are powered by batteries and motors. They are the Genesis Electrified GV70, the Kia EV9, and the Volvo EX30.
Meanwhile, all three finalists in the car of the year category are offered with a degree of electrification. They are the Honda Accord, the Toyota Prius/Prius Prime, and the Hyundai Ioniq 6.
North American Car, Truck, and Utility Vehicle Of the Year Finalists
Read: 8 EVs, 9 Hybrids And No Startups Among 2024 North American Car Of The Year Award Semi Finalists
Finally, in the truck segment, just one finalist is electric: the Chevrolet Silverado EV. The other contenders for top honors are the electric pickup’s smaller stablemate, the Chevrolet Colorado, and an option from its cross-town rival, the Ford F-Series Super Duty.
“Electric vehicles again make up more than half of our finalists,” said Jeff Gilbert, president of NACTOY. “That shows how important they are to carmakers and how many more choices car buyers now have. But there is a lot of variety in this group, including a big work truck, a hybrid and a family sedan.”
The field of finalists was selected by a jury of 50 respected automotive journalists, who winnowed down the field of entrants to 25 semi-finalists in September, and then to nine vehicles today. They make their selections based on criteria such as outstanding innovation, design, performance, driver satisfaction, and value.
The jurors will make their final evaluations over the coming weeks, and will cast their ballots for their favorites. The winners will be announced on January 4, at M1 Concourse in Pontiac, Michigan.