1:1 draw – confident tip from football expert Gilbert Gress (80) before kick-off between Brazil and Switzerland. The Football World Cup, postponed to winter in Qatar, has also caused difficulties for “Schweizer Illustrierte” as the organizer of the Swiss car of the year selection premiere, which traditionally takes place at the end of November.
But editor-in-chief Silvia Binggeli (50) and her team make necessity a virtue and invite car bosses and leading brand ambassadors to a joint public screening at the Emil Frey Classic Center at Safenwil AG before the awards ceremony.
180 guests attend the celebrations
And bosses and celebrities show up in large numbers. In a good mood, they have the opportunity to exchange ideas in a relaxed atmosphere at the end of the year. There are many topics. Of course football. “Brazil will be world champions, but tonight we will win,” said Emil Frey CEO Marcel Guerry (60). Then the upcoming Federal Council elections: “Rösti will win the race”, the car people were convinced. And of course we would like to see it. The automobile industry could not have asked for a more direct link to the Federal Council than Albert Rösti (55), the current President of the Swiss Automobile Importers Association.
Aargau James Bond car
Then the football match is over – almost 0:1 lost. However, this is not much affected by the good mood. Because now following the main reason for the break; Election premiere with the announcement of the Swiss car of the year 2023. With some initial difficulties and a lot of smoke, Silvia Binggeli brought moderator Jann Billeter (50) on stage with James Bond Aston Martin AG 007.
Later, Ringier-Axel Springer-Switzerland CEO Alexander Theobald (58) with his band spoke a few words to the guests in front of soul singer Seven (44), and the brief appearance continued to warm the guests who were eagerly awaiting the election results.
Skoda ahead
After that, it was hit and miss. Only the moderator Billeter announces the winner in the public vote. About 30,000 people from all language regions of our country voted and for the third time in a row chose a Skoda as Switzerland’s favorite car.
Young brand successful
Then the highlight: a twelve-person expert jury, chaired by former F1 team boss Monisha Kaltenborn (51), selects the Swiss car of the year 2023 – for many, the still young all-electric GV 60 from the Genesis brand. Switzerland won.
Thunderous applause. And despite the Swiss footballers’ narrow defeat in Qatar, there are many happy faces at the big car premiere in Safenwil. Gilbert Gress sums up the soccer car night as “A successful event with valuable winners.”
The winners of the “Swiss Car of the Year 2022” selection have been announced