- Bridgestone Southern Africa is new headline sponsor.
- Competition enters its 41st edition in 2027.
- Committee and jury announced in November.
- Finalists named in January 2027.
- Winners announced in May 2027.
The South African Car of the Year (COTY) competition has a new headline sponsor in Bridgestone Southern Africa, the South African Guild of Mobility Journalists (SAGMJ) has announced. The deal comes as the competition, one of the longest-running automotive awards in the country, prepares for its 41st edition in 2027.
The tyre maker’s product range covers motorsport, passenger vehicles, light and heavy commercial vehicles, earthmoving and agricultural equipment, motorcycles and aircraft.
Bridgestone on the sponsorship
The sponsorship arrives while the local market sees new brands, advances in vehicle technology and growing consumer interest in electrified mobility. Jacques Rikhotso, Regional Vice President of Bridgestone, Africa Middle East, said the company supports “an initiative that celebrates the industry’s progress while helping motorists make informed decisions.”
How the COTY competition is judged
Established in 1986 by motoring journalists, the annual event is hosted by the SAGMJ. Experienced jurors assess eligible new vehicles against a scoring system covering quality, safety, technology, performance and value for money.
Administration stays with the guild, which also oversees the independent judging process. Vehicle assessments and results are determined by the appointed jury in line with established evaluation criteria.
Brendon Staniforth, Chairperson of the SAGMJ, said that with an increasingly competitive market and fast-changing vehicle technology, “independent and credible vehicle evaluation has never been more important.”
Timeline for the 2027 Car of the Year
Following more than 60 new vehicle launches in 2026, the 41st edition gets underway in November with the announcement of the 2027 committee and jury. Semi-finalists will be named in early December, with the finalists following in January 2027.
Jurors will put the finalists through intensive testing days in March, and the overall and category winners will be announced in May 2027. More information is available at www.sagmj.co.za.
Supplied by QuickPic (SAGMJ)
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