Pioneering edition of the Middle East Car of the Year Awards to showcase all nominated cars in accompanying two-day exhibition
November 10, 2014
All eyes are set on the inaugural edition of the Middle East Car of the Year (MECOTY) Award, the most coveted award for the regional automotive industry. Senior management executives from the entire industry have confirmed their attendance and are eagerly waiting in anticipation for the final results to be announced in a glittering gala awards night on November 20, 2014 at the Meydan Beach Club, JBR, Dubai.
“Middle East Car of the Year is a key platform for automotive brands in this region and we look forward to finding out how Jaguar Land Rover and its competitors have made an impact in this region,” said Bruce Robertson, Managing Director, Jaguar Land Rover MENA. “We are very pleased to have four of our vehicles nominated for the award and wish everyone the best of luck.”
“We are extremely honoured to be recognized by Middle East Car of the Year Award, which is one of the most reputed automotive awards in the industry,” said Samir Cherfan, Managing Director, Nissan Middle East. “Being nominated shows our commitment to the region to fulfill consumer demands. Nissan is committed to delivering innovation and excitement and winning an award at MECOTY will be recognition and a testament to that.”
The nominees underwent a stringent selection process that lasted almost seven months by a select panel of judges, who are handpicked to represent their respective countries, this makes MECOTY the only independent recognition for car manufacturers which acknowledges the fact that the cars they are selling in the region are in line with consumer needs.
“’We believe McLaren Automotive is evolving to be seen as a leading global luxury supercar brand and we recognise the huge importance the Middle East has on shaping such an image and will continue to have on our success against our competitors,” said Ian Gorsuch, Regional Director for Middle East & Africa. “We understand the regional market and we listen to what our customers want, this is what has led to incredible demand for our already award winning supercars and prestigious award nominations such as this.”
“We are pleased to have models from both our BMW and MINI brands nominated for this year’s Middle East Car of the Year Awards. The number of nominations for BMW Group confirms that we offer the right products to the discerning customers of this region. The Middle East Car of the Year Award celebration will be an exciting evening and BMW Group looks forward to being part of it,” said Johannes Seibert, Managing Director, BMW Group, Middle East.
MECOTY has empowered consumers by letting them vote for their favourite car through a custom Facebook app, which after receiving an overwhelming public response, took its last votes in yesterday. Five lucky winners will be given an opportunity of a life time to attend this exclusive industry-invite only event and watch the action as it unfolds.
“With the launch of this app, we have given the power to the people to vote for their favourite car and demonstrate their brand loyalty. It was purely a social media driven campaign and all manufacturers were given an equal opportunity window of three weeks to get their fans and followers to vote for their brand and make it win the prestigious Consumer Car of the Year title. The results will be a definitive measure of how connected the manufacturers truly are with their followers and a true testament of their public relations and marketing team’s engagement strategies,” said Mohammad Ali Sajjad, Advisor, MECOTY 2014.
“We are proud to have our new products nominated for the first Middle East Car of the Year Award. The fact that these models have been shortlisted is a testament to General Motors’ unwavering commitment to the highest standards of automotive excellence by delivering an enhanced driving experience and performance that exceeds expectations. We are eagerly looking forward to the 2014 MECOTY awards ceremony. Winning – and receiving industry-wide recognition on a regional level – would be a true honor,” said Maurice Williams, President and Managing Director of GM Middle East Operations.
Another exciting thing to look forward to in the event is the accompanying nominated cars display, which eliminates the need to go to various showrooms and waste time, energy, money and resources.
“If you are in the market for a new vehicle and can’t decide which car to invest on, just visit the nominated cars display of MECOTY 2014, see all the best cars of the year on one platform, meet the showroom representatives then and there and make the decision on which car to buy on the spot! Our aim is to bring the car manufacturers closer to their customers and the display is the perfect platform to execute this vision,” said Saeed Al Marzouqi, CEO & Chairman, Custom Events, Dubai.
Sponsors and partners of the event include: Platinum Sponsors, Dubai Properties Group, Official Venue, Meydan Beach Club and Support Sponsor, Carmudi.ae.
“Carmudi.ae is pleased to partner with such an important event in the region’s automotive industry and take part in showcasing the top brands and models as picked by both experts and the public. Just like MECOTY, we strive to provide our customers with the best experience in the marketplace.” Kerem Kuyucu, Managing Director of Carmudi Middle East
Prominent brands to be placed on display include Audi, Bentley, BMW, Chevrolet, Cadillac, Ford, Hyundai, Infiniti, Jaguar, Lexus, Land Rover, KIA, Maserati, McLaren, MINI, Mercedes, Nissan, Opel, Rolls Royce, Toyota & Volkswagen.