CEOs of Chevrolet Europe and Opel collected the CotY 2012 trophy

For the first time in Car of the Year history, the 2012 winner was announced on the eve of Geneva Auto Show press days, in front of many journalists ready to attend the show. Both CEOs of Chevrolet Europe, Susan Docherty, and Adam Opel AG, Carl-Friedrich Stracke, were at hand, eager to collect the coveted trophy for the winning Chevrolet Volt/Opel Ampera.

Before handing over the trophy, the president of the Jury, Hakan Matson, said: “The Opel Ampera and its counterpart, the Chevrolet Volt, won in a field of strong competitors, particularly on account of the outstanding technical progress they reflect. With its range extender the Ampera presents a very sound new concept on our way to e-mobility. By solving the problem of range anxiety, it is a remarkable step into future of electrification. A Car of the Year has to show excellence in a number of categories – with special attention to the needs of consumers. All the members of our Jury are experts and put the finalists through a series of exhaustive tests to provide substantial purchasing criteria for consumers.”