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IAF Car of the Year Jury & Voting

Jury & Voting

This page explains who contributes to evaluation, how voting is conducted, and what safeguards are in place to protect independence, consistency and trust in the final outcome.

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Role of the evaluation panel

The IAF Car of the Year programme is not designed as a media-only award. Its evaluation structure is intended to reflect broader professional judgement, combining technical insight, review discipline and practical vehicle assessment within a controlled programme framework.

The role of the evaluation panel is not to represent brands, markets or promotional interests, but to apply the published framework consistently and independently across the shortlisted vehicles.

Evaluation structure

Core evaluation panel

The core panel is expected to include individuals capable of contributing directly to structured vehicle assessment and final programme scoring.

  • IAF-appointed experts and programme specialists
  • Qualified members from relevant committees or technical bodies
  • Independent automotive evaluation professionals
  • Editors or review specialists where appropriate to the programme cycle
Specialist contributors

Additional contributors may support the process through technical clarification, subject-matter review or structured input, depending on the vehicle set and programme needs.

  • Safety and vehicle systems specialists
  • EV, battery or powertrain experts
  • Human–machine interface and usability specialists
  • Digital systems, software or mobility technology experts

Appointment and public disclosure

The programme may define the evaluation structure in advance while publishing the names of panel participants at a later stage in the cycle. This approach supports independence, scheduling flexibility and programme integrity while preserving transparency at the appropriate time.

When participants may be announced
  • Near the final evaluation period
  • At a defined stage of the programme timeline
  • Alongside shortlist or finalist communications, where appropriate
  • In line with governance and operational considerations
What remains public
  • The programme methodology and decision principles
  • The structure of the evaluation and voting process
  • Conflict-of-interest safeguards and governance controls
  • The status pathway from candidate to winner

Selection principles for panel participants

Participants are expected to be appointed on the basis of expertise, independence, judgement quality and their ability to apply structured evaluation consistently. The programme is intended to prioritise evaluation competence over publicity or profile alone.

What is expected
  • Demonstrated experience in vehicle review, technical assessment or structured evaluation
  • Ability to assess vehicles across multiple criteria rather than a single specialty only
  • Commitment to impartial and evidence-based judgement
  • Willingness to follow published methodology and programme controls
What may exclude participation
  • Active commercial relationships with nominated manufacturers or vehicles under review
  • Paid endorsement, promotional or ambassador roles that affect independence
  • Conflicts that cannot be reasonably mitigated under programme rules
  • Conduct inconsistent with methodological or governance expectations

Conflict of interest safeguards

Independence is protected through conflict-of-interest declarations and programme oversight controls. Relevant circumstances are expected to be disclosed before participation in final evaluation activity and updated where material changes occur.

  • Panel participants must declare relevant professional, financial or advisory ties
  • Declared conflicts may result in limited participation, recusal or exclusion from voting activity
  • Failure to disclose material conflicts may result in removal from the evaluation structure
  • Conflict-management decisions are documented under programme governance procedures

Voting process

Structured scoring
  • Shortlisted vehicles are assessed through the published weighted framework
  • Scoring is expected to reflect independent evaluation judgement
  • Supporting rationale or review notes may be required where defined by the programme
  • Only authorised voting participants contribute to the formal score outcome
Aggregation & validation
  • Programme scores are compiled under controlled internal procedures
  • Weighting is applied according to the published criteria structure
  • Results are reviewed for completeness, consistency and procedural integrity
  • Validated totals support the final ranking and winner determination

Decision structure

The programme may distinguish between contributors to evaluation, authorised voting members and internal programme oversight functions. This distinction helps maintain clarity between technical input, comparative review and final score handling.

Evaluation contributors

Individuals who support testing, review, technical interpretation or structured observations.

Authorised voting participants

Individuals formally recognised by the programme as eligible to contribute to the final score outcome.

Programme oversight

Internal controls that safeguard process integrity, documentation quality and decision traceability.

Tie-break rules

In the event of equal final totals, the programme may apply predefined tie-break logic in order to support a clear and justified outcome.

  1. Higher combined result in safety-related priorities
  2. Higher result in innovation, usability or other defined programme priorities
  3. Where necessary, further controlled review under programme governance procedures

Transparency note

The programme may publish its evaluation structure, governance principles and, at the appropriate stage, the identities of relevant panel participants. Individual score details may remain confidential where this is necessary to protect independence and process integrity.

Governance details

Explore the programme

About Car of the Year

Purpose and scope of the programme.
Eligibility & Rules

Submission, candidate status and programme conditions.
Testing Process

How shortlisted vehicles are reviewed in practice.
Evaluation Criteria

Weighted scoring, definitions, and evaluation structure.

Transparency & Governance

Oversight mechanisms and integrity safeguards.

Back to overview

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