Swiss Car of the Year 2024: The auto industry is in a celebratory mood

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They are back: corona and flu viruses. The grand winners’ gala of the “Swiss Car of the Year 2024” selection organized by “Schweizer Illustrierte” also caused several spontaneous cancellations among approximately 170 guests.

Gala presenter Jann Billeter (51) handles the situation calmly: “I’ve already had the flu this year, so nothing can shake me anymore,” he says during the aperitif in the Classic Center in Safenwil AG. This is actually a warm-up to the eagerly awaited announcement of the winners of the 2024 Swiss Car of the Year.

Guests take part in racing duels

But before that happens, guests can chat at the bar tables or blow off steam at the Blick Carrera slot race track. While football expert Gilbert Gress (81) and former ice hockey professional Eric Blum (37) were the first to duel, Blum is the more talented one. “The comparison is not entirely fair,” Blum admits. “I often train with my four-year-old son Reiwa.” The duel in small cars between racing professionals Nico Müller (31) and Fredy Barth (43) is more balanced. After 20 laps, Peugeot long-distance driver Müller is narrowly ahead.

After the games, snacks and champagne, it was finally time. Guests are located to the right and left of the specially constructed car podium. But Silvia Binggeli (46), presenter and editor-in-chief of the program “Schweizer Illustrierte”, appears on stage with presenter Jann Billeter, in front of the highly anticipated winning cars – in a vintage Land Rover outfit, appropriate to the venue Defender. They first greet the audience, then Ringier Medien Schweiz CEO Ladina Heimgartner (43).

The ice was quickly broken between the host of Grisons and the boss of Engadine Ringier, with both agreeing just as quickly that the best riders in Switzerland naturally come from Grisons. The musical surprise of the night comes from Basel: Singer Nubya (49) warms up the audience with three pop-soul songs.

Skoda is a crowd favorite

Later, the impatient spectator is no longer tortured and is eventually released. Presenter Billeter first announced the winner of the public vote: More than 31,000 people from all linguistic regions of our country voted and chose the Skoda Kodiaq as their favorite car for the fourth year in a row. “I would never have thought of that!” Skoda Switzerland boss Markus Kohler (58) happily said during the on-stage interview. says.

Then come the highlights: A 13-person expert jury of racing professionals, motoring journalists and environmental experts, chaired by former F1 team principal Monisha Kaltenborn (52), selects the 2024 Swiss Car of the Year. the electric VW ID.7 (3rd place) and the BMW i5 (2nd place) went to the small Jeep Avenger. It is the first Jeep to be offered with a gasoline engine or all-electric and, unusually for Jeep, without all-wheel drive. However, he managed to convince the expert jury: despite its compact dimensions, the city SUV offers plenty of space under the coolly designed metal sheets, stands out with a tidy cockpit and beautiful details such as virtual instruments and panels in body color. Cheering on stage, FCA Switzerland boss Thomas Odier (43) said: “There will definitely be another spontaneous celebration today!” says. The party actually starts after the awards ceremony.

Source: Blick