While most motorshows have been postponed or cancelled, events that can be held online have continued and the auto industry has in fact moved online for its launch activities. Global product launches and major announcements are now being presented using social media, which actually has a very big audience.
The Japan Car of the Year (JCOTY) event has not been a public sort of event so its schedule has not really been affected and this month, assessment of the finalists takes place with the winner to be announced on December 7.
This year’s list of nominees number 33, of which 13 are from Japanese brands and the remainder from other global manufacturers. In earlier years, the JCOTY has two categories, with one for Japanese models and the other for imported brands. However, the organisers decided to merge the two categories and the first non-Japanese brand to win the JCOTY overall award was the Volkswagen Golf Mk. 7 for the 2013-2014 event. Since then, foreign models have won two more times, both being from Volvo.
From the 33 nominees, which must be new models introduced and sold in the Japanese market from November in the previous year to October 31 of the current year (in this case, 2020), ten models are chosen as the ‘Ten Best Cars’. These are considered the finalists, from which one will become the Japan Car of the Year.
The Ten Best Cars for this year are: Audi e-tron Sportback BMW 2-Series Gran Coupe BMW Alpina B3 Honda Fit/Jazz Land Rover Defender Mazda MX-30 Nissan Kicks Peugeot 208/e-208 Subaru Levorg
Toyota Yaris /Yaris Cross/ GR Yaris
Later this month, the judging panel will test the ten models at a racing circuit in the Chiba Prefecture. They will then cast their votes which will determine the JCOTY for 2020-2021.
PAST WINNERS 1980-1981: Mazda Familia (323) 1981-1982: Toyota Soarer 1982-1983: Mazda Capella (626) 1983-1984: Honda Civic 1984-1985: Toyota MR2 1985-1986: Honda Accord 1986-1987: Nissan Pulsar 1987-1988: Mitsubishi Galant 1988-1989: Nissan Silvia SX 1989-1990: Toyota Celsior (Lexus LS) 1990-1991: Mitsubishi Galant 1991-1992: Honda Civic 1992-1993: Nissan March 1993-1994: Honda Accord 1994-1995: Mitsubishi FTO 1995-1996: Honda Civic 1996-1997: Mitsubishi Galant 1997-1998: Toyota Prius 1998-1999: Toyota Altezza (Lexus IS250) 1999-2000: Toyota Vitz (Yaris) 2000-2001: Honda Civic 2001-2002: Honda Fit (Jazz) 2002-2003: Honda Accord 2003-2004: Subaru Legacy 2004-2005: Honda Legend 2005-2006: Mazda MX-5 2006-2007: Lexus LS460 2007-2008: Honda Fit (Jazz) 2008-2009: Toyota iQ 2009-2010: Toyota Prius 2010-2011: Honda CR-Z 2011-2012: Nissan LEAF 2012-2013: Mazda CX-5 2013-2014: Volkswagen Golf 7 2014-2015: Mazda2/Demio 2015-2016: Mazda MX5 2016-2017: Subaru Impreza 2017-2018: Volvo XC60 2018-2019: Volvo XC40
2019-2020: Toyota RAV4
Keyword: Japan Car of the Year 2020-2021 – Ten Best Cars