Zee Auto Awards 2022 LIVE updates: Check Winners, Nominations, Nitin Gadkari’s speech, panel discussion, and more here

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DESIGN OF THE YEAR (2 Wheeler)

What are the important factors of a design? Well, many experts consider ergonomics, aerodynamics, practicality, and handling at the top of the list. Hence, the bike has to be something that ticks all of these boxes.

Nominations

The nominations in the list include KTM RC390, BMW C 400 GT, Suzuki Katana, and Triumph Trident 660.

Winner

The winner of the category is Suzuki Katana, with the best designs that justify its name with a sharp look. Moreover, the rider gets a comfortable riding position and easy handling for the bike.

PREMIUM MOTORCYCLE OF THE YEAR

Premium motorcycles are some of the most attention-grabbing machines out there. The bikes are rich in performance, features, design, and every other aspect that comes to mind. However, something that grabs attention is their capability of offering a blend of performance and features. Well, the Indian market has seen the introduction of a multitude of new motorcycles, which even managed to woo crowds. The category honours the bike that offers the best of all the categories.

Nominations

The nominations in this category are Ducati Multistrada V2, Honda Africa Twin, Kawasaki Versys 650, Suzuki Katana, and Triumph Tiger Sport 660.

Winner

Honda Africa Twin gets the title of the premium motorcycle of the year because of its capabilities off the road, power factor, design, and measurements that bring forth a personality backed by features.

MOTORCYCLE OF THE YEAR

According to data from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, passenger vehicles account for the majority of total vehicle sales in India, with two-wheelers accounting for a sizable portion of that total. Given this, we can conclude that motorcycles are a popular vehicle segment in India. Hence, the category picks out the best options available in India.

Nominations

The contenders on the list have been chosen considering their pricing and what they have on offer. Hence, the top models checking these boxes are; KTM RC390, Bajaj Pulsar N250, Honda CB300F, Royal Enfield Hunter 350 and TVS Ronin.

Winner

The Royal Enfield Hunter 350 takes the award for being the most affordable, compact, power-packed and feature-rich motorcycle with decent pricing. The bike comes with a 349 cc single-cylinder 4-stroke engine with 20.4 Ps of power output and a max torque of 27 Nm.

ELECTRIC SCOOTER OF THE YEAR

Indian consumers are moving towards adopting vehicles that help in achieving a sustainable future. This new interest has resulted in increased sales of electric scooters. Based on the most recent data, this category of vehicles is receiving an overwhelming amount of consumer interest and an upward-moving graph in month-on-month sales.

Nominations

In a market where the options are increasing on a daily basis, the nominees chosen for the category are; Ather 350X, Ola S1, Okinawa Okhi90, and Bounce Infinity e.1. The electric scooters represent the most affordable options out there in the segment with the best range and features on offer.

Winner

Ola S1 takes the award in this category. The electric 2-wheeler is of the best options in the category because of its affordability and feature-rich package for the consumers.

BRAND OF THE YEAR (2 WHEELER)

The motorcycle manufacturing brands are working towards creating a bike with attractive design, rich in features, and yet affordable. The race in this direction has been a tough one for the OEMs, but the results that have come out of it have caught everyone's attention. This award honours their product and their efforts for the future.

Nominations

The names best suited for this category are Royal Enfield, TVS, Bajaj, Ola Electric, and Suzuki. They have been placed in the category for their latest models, complete with innovations checking all the boxes for the consumers.

Winner

TVS takes the award as the best brand for innovative, affordable, and feature-rich bikes personified in the form of TVS Ronin. The bike features an innovative design, an affordable price tag, and a rich feature list.

BRAND OF THE YEAR (4 WHEELER)

The multiple OEMs in India are working towards creating the best vehicle in their ability that suits the needs of the consumers and is in line with the government norms. Moreover, the concern for the environment has pushed the brands to look for more environment-friendly power options. The category honours the efforts of the brands for their efforts toward a sustainable future. 

Nominations

The brands that caught the most attention with their efforts and models are Mercedes-Benz, Mahindra, Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai, and BMW. 

Winner

The brand that takes the award is Mercedes-Benz for its engineering with the best models like Mercedes-Benz EQS. Moreover, the German car manufacturer has been working towards creating a safe car that is in sync with the government's efforts of increasing road safety.

LUXURY CAR OF THE YEAR

The cars that gain the most attention on the road are also on top of the list of dream cars for many. The cars in the discussion here are popularly known as luxury cars. They justify the terminology with their opulent interiors and the best of the manufacturers' engineering sophistication. In this category, we have all the cars that might also be the most desired cars currently in the Indian market.

Nominations

The nominees in the 'Luxury car of the year category are Audi A8L, Audi Q7, Land Rover Range Rover, Mercedes-Benz C Class and Mercedes-Maybach S Class. It would not be wrong to say that these models are the 'shining stars' of their maker's arsenal.

Winner

The best of the best is the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class, with its most opulent interiors and a design screaming German engineering's precision. For these reasons, the model is also popular among celebrities and many renowned world leaders.

SUV OF THE YEAR

The SUVs are the body type whose popularity graph is increasing day by day in the Indian market. Hence, to compete for the biggest piece of the pie, OEMs have chosen a path leading to their models' evolution in the Indian market. Thus, there are multiple good options to choose from.

Nominations

Among the multiple good options, we have chosen the best ones in the form of Hyundai Venue, Jeep Meridian, Mahindra Scorpio-N, Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, and Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder.

Winner

The SUV of the year undoubtedly is the Mahindra Scorpio-N. The new model from India's largest UV makers offers the best of both worlds; a blend of off-roading capabilities and plush interiors with a relatively affordable price tag. So far, the SUV has been a success for the Indian automaker bringing in record-breaking amounts of bookings.

LUXURY ELECTRIC CAR OF THE YEAR

Besides the affordable options, the luxury car segment is something that presents advanced electric vehicles in terms of technology, features, performance, and range on a single charge. This year the category saw the debut of some of the most spectacular models out there. Something that shows us what the cars will look like five years down the line.

Nominations

The category nominations include models from the best luxury car manufacturers, such as the BMW i4, Mercedes-AMG EQS, Mini Cooper SE, Porsche Taycan 4S, and Volvo XC40 Recharge. These models represent the pinnacle of EV evolution at the moment, with the potential to further advance the technology.

Winner

BMW i4 comes on top as the winner in the category. The luxury electric car is a perfect blend of technology and futuristic aesthetics. As a cherry on top, the car powered by an 83.9kWh lithium-ion battery pack gives a range of 590 km on the WLTP cycle, which is among the highest any vehicle offers.

SEDAN OF THE YEAR

Sedans are something that many might believe give the feeling of the poshest car type. These are often the choice whenever someone wants something classy. However, the options in the category are very tough to choose from.

Nominations

The nominations in the category include models like Honda City Hybrid, Skoda Octavia, Skoda Slavia, Toyota Camry Hybrid, and Volkswagen Virtus. All of these cars are on sale in India and offer modern aesthetics with a host of features.

Winner

The title of the best sedan in 2022 can easily be given to Skoda Slavia. This car comes loaded with features, a comparatively low riding position, a spacious cabin, and other things that one might require for their sedan to be a complete package.

ELECTRIC CAR OF THE YEAR

Electric cars are a mirror that shows us what the future of vehicles might look like. Moreover, considering the environmental impact, the OEMs are moving toward this new fuel source. Hence, the category is full of many potent models that can give you a hint of what the future might look like.

Nominations

The contenders in the list cover the whole range of vehicles, from the most affordable to the most expensive. Additionally, the nominations have been made keeping in mind which car provides the complete package. Hence, we have Kia EV6, MG ZS EV, Tata Nexon, Tata Tiago EV, and BYD e6 as the nomination for the best electric car of the year.

Winner

The newest of the entrants in the electric car market takes the title of the best electric four-wheeler. Yes, it is the Tata Tiago EV; the electric car comes as the most affordable option in the market. Moreover, it offers the most viable option with a decent range on a single charge.

DESIGN OF THE YEAR (4Wheeler)

Before features, interiors, or even the mechanics of the car, when someone looks at a car, the first thing that attracts attention is the design of the car. Many might even consider it as their first priority when selecting a car for themselves. Hence, out of ample options, the category takes out the best that the Indian market has to offer.

Nominations

The brands spend years developing the design of their vehicles to be on the top in terms of aesthetics, aerodynamics, and a multitude of other factors. And this is what the best of those products are: Citroen C5 Aircross, Hyundai Tucson, Kia EV6, Mercedes-AMG EQS, and Porsche Taycan 4S.

Winner

Porsche Taycan 4S is the pinnacle of German engineering, with a combination of a performance-oriented electric powertrain and the legacy of the carmaker. The same reflects in the car's design, with precision and performance being on top. Hence, the car is awarded the best design of the year.

MPV OF THE YEAR

The multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) are the cars best suited for long comfortable journeys and families. These vehicles notice an increasing consumer base; hence, multiple manufacturers are bringing new models into the category. The major factors to consider in these models are the cabin space loaded with features and comfort. Hence, the category covers the option that suits these needs the best.

Nominations

The contenders of the category have been chosen considering the previously mentioned factors. The models that best qualify are BYD e6, Kia Carens, Kia Carnival, Maruti Suzuki Ertiga, and Maruti Suzuki XL6. Moreover, these are the best options the Indian market has to offer.
Winner

Kia Carens takes the award in this category. The award comes as a result of its affordability with the feature-rich and classy interiors complete with ambient lights. In addition, the exteriors of the car come with a modern appeal that a consumer of this category might need. 

HATCHBACK OF THE YEAR

Hatchbacks are the most popular category in the Indian market. Most consumers look for a car that is easy to drive, takes less space when parked, and goes easy on the pocket. The hatchbacks fulfill all these needs. In fact, the best-selling cars often are hatchbacks. Hence, OEMs often keep coming up with the most appealing options to get a share of the market. This category deals with those options.

Nominations

The nominations in this category have been made considering all the aforementioned significant factors. The nominations include Maruti Suzuki Baleno, Maruti Suzuki Alto K10, Maruti Suzuki Celerio, Tata Tiago NRG, and Toyota Glanza.

Winner

Maruti Suzuki Baleno is arguably the best option in this category. With the facelift launched this year, the hatchback has it all; the looks, the features, and the price. Moreover, it offers some segment-first features like Heads up display (HUD) while keeping the car price in the same slab.

NEW PRODUCT OF YEAR

When a person thinks of buying a vehicle or a car, he always seeks something 'new.' And the word itself signifies what this category stands for. A vehicle that goes hand in hand with the latest needs of the time, something that is a physical manifestation of the term modern. A car that has a design brings forth what modern consumers demand. Hence the category shorts lists the options OEMs have brought forth in 2022.

Nominations

The category has vehicles that have a modern appeal with their exterior design, features, and powertrain as well. Hence, considering all the needs, the nominations include models like Citroen C3, Jeep Meridian, Mahindra Scorpio-N, Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, and Tata Punch.

Winner

The category's winner is the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, as it has it all. The mid-size SUV has the looks of what a person might expect a new vehicle to look like, with LED headlamps, smooth curves, and an LED strip on the rear end. Moreover, it offers a complete package with a hybrid powertrain and features like a 360-degree camera, sunroof, and other things.

FACELIFT OF THE YEAR

Facelifts of the car ensure that the models with already a decent consumer base can attract even more consumers. The goal is achieved by changing multiple aspects of the car to bring it on par with the standard of ongoing trends. Moreover, the term 'Facelift' itself indicates that the model is getting updates regarding features, looks and covers all the bases for the consumers.

Nominations

The category nominations have been made keeping in mind the model's updates. To follow a holistic approach, the contenders have been chosen based on the feature list, aesthetics, and of course, the price that these updates come with. Hence, the nominations include names like Hyundai Venue, Maruti Suzuki Baleno, Maruti Suzuki Brezza, and MG ZS EV.

Winner

Hyundai Venue takes the crown of being the facelift of the year. The car checks all the boxes for the consumers in terms of features. In addition, it comes with desirable modern aesthetics with ample amounts of variants to cover each category of consumers. On the same line, the price of the SUV, considering the updates, is what makes it worthy of the title.

Amit Kumar backs the point by saying, "consumer awareness and infrastructure development need to hand in hand to improve road safety."

Manish Raj Singhania mentions, "consumer awareness is crucial in improving road safety."

Panel discussion begins on: Road Safety, why talking about it is the need of the hour?

The panelist in the discussion are Manish Raj Singhania, President, FADA and Managing Partner, Ralas Motors; Anurag Kulshrestha, Founder and President, Indian Alliance of NGOs for Road Safety and Amit Kumar, CEO, OLX Group.

Panel discussion on: How proper infrastructure can push Electric Vehicle penetration in India?

Union Minister felicitated the automakers for various categories like marketer of the year, viewer's choice of cars, bike of the year, bike of the decade, and more.

The Bike of the year award goes to Hero Xpulse.

The Bike of the Decade award goes to Hero Splendor.

Viewers' choice SUV of the year goes to Hyundai Tucson.

The viewer's choice car award goes to Citroen C3.

The award for the best Marketer of the year goes to Audi.

The government is working on promoting tourism in the country and plans to connect important tourist places with road network. 

Union Minister talks about the innovations going on in the automotive industry and claims that in the coming years Indian automotive industry will be on top in the world in a few years.

The government is in promoting entrepreneurs to develop Zinc-ion, Aluminium-ion, and other kinds of batteries as well.

Nitin Gadkari says, "We expect to reduce the cost of tickets of AC double-decker buses and want to make the services accessible to the economically weaker section as well. "

Nitin Gadkari, "The industry in India is the seventh largest in the world and is expected to grow even more in the upcoming years."

Nitin Gadkari says, "The problem with the automotive industry is that we are importing a considerable amount of fossil fuels. However, the industry providing a lot of revenue in the form of GST and jobs as well."

With the lamp Lighting ceremony, the event begins:

The event has begun with the anchor welcoming the guests and introducing the event.

The stage is complemented by vehicles like Mercedes-AMG EQS, BMW 1000 RR, and Suzuki Katana on its side.

The stage is all set, and the event is set to begin shortly.