The World Car Awards programme has been on since 2004, and has recognized the best of the global automobile industry. Over the years new categories have been added to the programme - like World Luxury Car and World Urban Car of the Year. In 2018, the WCOTY steering committee decided it was also fitting to award some of the people behind the products, and hence it has instituted a World Car Person of the Year award. The first inaugural award was presented at the Geneva Motor Show to Hakan Samuelsson, President and CEO, Volvo Cars. The award was announced during the World Car Awards press conference at the Geneva Show, where the three finalists across the product categories for the 2018 honors were also revealed. Those results will be announced at the awards ceremony to be held at the New York International Auto Show at the end of March.
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Speaking after receiving the award, Samuelsson said, "It's a great honor and it was a great surprise, and I think it's an acknowledgment that you only should not do more of the same but you should also be bold enough to do what you believe in. And it is an acknowledgement of course to all of the people who did the turnaround together with me at Volvo Cars. So deeply honored to have this award."
The award recognizes the individual contribution of the recipient not just to his or her own company or business, but also to the automobile industry.
(The World Car Awards Steering Committee members and some of the jurors with the first-ever World Car Person of the Year)
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World Car Awards Vice-Chairman Mike Rutherford said, "When deciding who should win this first-time award, we weren't concerned about the age, nationality or job title of the man or woman concerned. We simply wanted to identify the most worthy individual in the industry. Hakan Samuelsson is someone who- against the odds- has successfully integrated his relatively small company into an automotive empire based on another continent. And, as a result of this unlikely but seemingly happy marriage, both sides have emerged considerably stronger. At the same time, Mr. Samuelsson has maintained his brand's identity and relative independence, as well as thoroughly reviving his product line-up to ensure that it's a super-strong competitor in the premium sector."
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Volvo has been instrumental in getting attention on greener initiatives at an OEM transformative level. It has also focused on smaller displacement engines, while pushing the boundaries of design and application with its cars. And all of this has happened under the stewardship of Samuelsson. Rutherford adds, "He's a car guy, of course. But more than that, he's an engine, tech, industrial and restructuring expert. Also, he's managed to reinvigorate his company's public image as a clean, green, lean, safety-oriented technology leader. And as his current balance sheet proves, he knows how to create healthy profits. Nicknamed the 'The Disrupter'- a label he says he's very proud of- he's announced a bold electrification strategy that includes a combination of pure-electric and petrol-hybrid vehicles from next year onwards."
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Volvo has launched a string of successful products the past few years, starting with the second generation XC90 in late 2014. Since then it has brought to market - the immensely successful S90/V90 twins. Then came the second gen XC60 compact SUV in 2017, and this year the company has wowed with a foray into the even more compact space with the first ever XC40. Volvo has also just launched the new V60 station wagon, which will soon be followed by the brand new S60 sedan. It has also recently launched a performance brand - Polestar, and the first product - Polestar 1 was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show a few days ago, where it made its global debut.
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In India Volvo has seen a steady increase in its popularity, and it even began assembling operations last year. Its XC90 and S90 have also been significant winners at the NDTV Car and Bike Awards in 2016 and 2017 respectively. The new XC60 has also been shortlisted for the World Car Awards 2018 in the Design and overall World Car of the Year categories.
