OREANDA-NEWS. The organizers of the regular competition "North American Car, SUV and Pickup Truck of the Year" announced the semi-finalists of the award. They included 8 passenger cars, 6 pickups, as well as 9 crossovers and SUVs.

Among the semi-finalists in the passenger car category were several models that are officially presented in Russia. We are talking about the Audi A3 of the new generation, the Genesis G70 sedan, the Volkswagen Golf of the eighth generation, as well as the flagship models of Mercedes-Benz — the S-Class sedan and the EQS electric car. 

The list of the best pickups includes the new Ford Maverick, as well as the electric GMC Hummer and Rivian R1T. The remaining semi-finalists are represented by Japanese and South Korean models.

As for the category of crossovers and SUVs, it includes models from the United States, Japan, South Korea and Germany. For example, the new Kia Carnival claims to win in this class, which the company calls GUV (Grand Utility Vehicle — "Big Utility car") or "crossven", meaning that the novelty combines the qualities of a minivan and a crossover.

The competition jury consists of 50 automotive journalists representing the print and online press, as well as radio and television. In October, they will conduct comparative test drives of cars. The finalists of the competition will be selected in mid-November as part of the motor show in Los Angeles, and the winners will be announced in January 2022 as part of a special event of the Detroit Automobile Dealers Association (DADA).

Recall that the winners of the previous NACTOY competition were the Hyundai Elantra sedan of the new generation, the Ford F-150 pickup truck and the Ford Mustang Mach-E electric crossover.