South African 2024 Car of the Year Semifinalists Unveiled
The 2024 Car of the Year (COTY) committee has revealed the semifinalists for its annual competition. Hosted by the South African Guild of Mobility Journalists (SAGMJ), the 38th COTY event is sponsored by Old Mutual for the second consecutive year.
The COTY validation committee has carefully selected vehicles eligible for entry, ensuring that only entirely new model ranges qualify. Exceptions are made for sports derivatives of existing model ranges, which are eligible to compete in the Performance category.
In the 2024 competition, more than 200 vehicles underwent evaluation, with only 25 meeting the stringent entry criteria. SAGMJ members cast their votes, elevating these 25 to the status of semifinalists.
Mabuyaneabuza, chairperson of the 2023 and 2024 COTY committee and vice-chair of the SAGMJ, stated, “The 2024 COTY edition features a competitive lineup across all categories, setting the stage for fierce competition among overall and category winners.”
The increasing prevalence of battery-electric vehicles (BEV) and hybrid-electric vehicles (HEV), alongside the expansion of local infrastructure to support this sector’s growth, has led to the integration of these vehicles into existing qualifying categories, prompting the removal of the New Energy category from the COTY competition.
For further information and inquiries, please contact:
**Email:** info@sagmj.co.za
**Phone:** +27 (0)11 889 7267
**Website:** [SAGMJ Official Website](https://www.sagmj.co.za/)
Stay tuned for more updates as the competition progresses and the finalists are announced. The 2024 COTY promises to be an exciting event, showcasing the best of the automotive industry in South Africa.
