The 83rd Geneva International Motor Show will crown the Car of the Year for 2013

Geneva--February 19, 2013: For the second time, the Car of the Year will be crowned within the framework of the Geneva International Motor Show on March 4, 2013, the day before the show will be opened to the press. The award is the oldest automobile prize, which this year celebrates its 50th year. The Car of the Year 2013 will be chosen from eight finalists. Each year the Geneva International Motor Show welcomes more than 10,000 journalists from all over the world during the two days reserved for them (March 5-6, 2013) prior to the time it is opened to the public (March 7-17, 2013). Auto Salon

The selection committee for the Car of the Year award is composed of 59 journalists from 23 countries. Each year they vote to decide on the most exceptional car from all those launched on the European market the year before the election. To be eligible, the model must have targeted annual sales of at least 5,000 units.

This award will celebrate its 50th year and will crown the winner from the eight finalists chosen last December from 32 eligible new models. These finalists are: Ford B-Max, Hyundai i30, Mercedes A Class, Peugeot 208, Renault Clio, Subaru BRZ/Toyota GT86, Volkswagen Golf, and Volvo V40.

The election will take place for the second time within the framework of the Geneva International Motor Show at the Palexpo Conference Centre on March 4, 2013. That is the day before the two Press Days (March 5-6, 2013) which welcome more than 10,000 media representatives from all over the world. During these two days the exhibiting manufacturers will launch more than a hundred new models and concept cars. They will be presenting the new strategies for their companies and showcasing the main trends in the development of the automobile industry during some 65 press conferences.

Organised each year in the early springtime, as the new selling season gets underway, and on « neutral » territory (as the Swiss do not have an automobile manufacturing industry), the Geneva International Motor Show is a favourite platform of all the automobile manufacturers for presenting their latest creations just before they are launched into the market.

The Geneva International Motor Show will open its doors to the public from March 7-17, 2013. In 2012

702,014 visitors, including 41% foreign visitors from more than a hundred different countries, attended this most international of all the automobile shows in the world.

For more information about the organisation and the election of the Car of the Year, please visit: Car of the Year .

For more information about the Geneva International Motor Show, please visit: Auto Salon