IN a sign of the times and the increasing market prominence of EVs, one of the first large SUVs that is battery powered has won Car of the Year.
The 2024 Kia EV9 took out both World Car of the Year and World Electric Vehicle awards at the New York Auto Show.
The judging panel is made up of 100 automotive journalists representing 29 countries who found the Kia EV9’s innovative design, spacious seven-seat interior, and competitive price point warranted the top award.
Based on the E-GMP platform, the EV9 is the first Kia to feature fourth-generation battery technology for improved performance.
The World Car Awards are renowned globally as a premier standard for automotive excellence and leadership, celebrating remarkable accomplishments within a rapidly changing automotive industry.
Kia has claimed three wins at the World Car Awards – the Telluride as World Car of the Year and the Soul EV as World Urban Car in 2020, along with the Kia EV6 GT taking World Performance Car of the Year in 2023.
Kia president and CEO says Ho Sung Song says the company was hnoured by the win.
“This triumph is a testament to our unwavering commitment to pushing the boundaries of technology and design excellence, “ he says.
“The Kia EV9’s continued success will drive us to keep delivering exceptional vehicles that redefine the driving experience for customers around the world,”
2024 Kia EV9, Kia’s first dedicated three-row EV SUV, the EV9 has collected a number of prizes, including winning the ‘Family Cars’ category of the Golden Steering Wheel Awards, the 2024 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year, and ‘Best Premium SUV’ at the 2023 Newsweek Autos Awards.
“EV9 is a clear representation of Kia’s vision, and further evidence of our dedication to quality. This award cements Kia’s standing as the frontrunner in sustainable mobility solutions that go beyond conventional automobiles. We share this honour with our global teams who contributed their utmost efforts to drive EV9’s success,” said Seungkyu (Sean) Yoon, President and CEO of Kia North America and Kia America.