CHENNAI: ACKO Tech’s content division held the inaugural ACKO Drive Awards in New Delhi. The awards acknowledged and celebrated the best products and exceptional contributions of the auto industry in the past year. Prominent figures from the automobile industry attended the event.The “The One That Matters” (#TOTM) signifies ACKO Drive’s efforts to establish a transparent and reputable recognition system for the automobile industry. By setting new standards of excellence, these awards identify exceptional products and individuals, motivating and inspiring them to succeed. The awards recognised outstanding achievements in various categories. The year’s best products such as cars, bikes, scooters, or the work behind them done in communication, design, and technology, that focussed on excellence, innovation, was honoured at the event. Key leaders in the Indian automobile industry were also recognised.
The ACKO Drive Awards, “The One That Matters’ (#TOTM), were awarded to:
| 2023 Commuter Motorcycle | Bajaj Pulsar N160 |
| 2023 Performance Motorcycle | KTM RC 390 |
| 2023 Adventure Motorcycle | Suzuki V-Strom SX |
| 2023 Modern Classic Motorcycle | Royal Enfield Hunter 350 |
| 2023 Premium Performance Motorcycle | Suzuki Katana |
| 2023 Premium Motorcycle | Ducati Hypermotard 950 |
| 2023 Premium Adventure Motorcycle | Ducati DesertX |
| 2023 Scooter of the Year | Vida V1 |
| 2023 ACKO Drive EV Bike | Vida V1 |
| 2023 Bike Design of the Year | Vida V1 |
| 2023 ACKO Drive Bike Manufacturer of the Year | Royal Enfield |
| 2023 ACKO Drive Premium Bike Of The Year | Ducati DesertX |
| 2023 ACKO Drive Bike of the Year | Vida V1 |
| 2023 Entry Car | Maruti Suzuki Alto K10 |
| 2023 Subcompact Car | Maruti Suzuki Baleno |
| 2023 Subcompact SUV | Maruti Suzuki Brezza |
| 2023 Compact Car | Skoda Slavia |
| 2023 Compact SUV | Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara |
| 2023 MPV | Kia Carens |
| 2023 Midsize Car | Hyundai Tucson |
| 2023 Fullsize Car | Mahindra Scorpio – N |
| 2023 Premium Compact Car | Audi Q3 |
| 2023 Luxury Car | Range Rover Sport |
| 2023 Performance Car | Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 4MATIC+ |
| 2023 Sports Car | Lamborghini Urus Performante |
| 2023 ACKO Drive EV Car | Tata Tiago EV |
| 2023 ACKO Drive Premium EV | BMW i4 |
| 2023 Car Design of the Year | Kia EV6 |
| 2023 ACKO Drive Car Manufacturer of the Year | Maruti Suzuki India |
| 2023 ACKO Drive Premium Car of the Year | Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 4MATIC+ |
| 2023 ACKO Drive Car of the Year | Skoda Slavia |
| 2023 Interface / Infotainment | BYD Atto 3 |
| 2023 Best Gadget | MBUX Hyperscreen |
| 2023 Safety Award | Mahindra Scorpio – N |
| 2023 Best Creative Film (Bike) | Ather |
| 2023 Best Creative Film (Car) | Volkswagen Social Safety Video Series |
| 2023 Best Integrated Campaign Idea (Bike) | Bajaj for Pulsar N160 Launch |
| 2023 Best Integrated Campaign Idea (Car) | Hyundai for Ioniq5 |
| 2023 Best PR & Communications Team of the Year (Bike) | Ather |
| 2023 Best PR & Communications Team of the Year (Car) | Citroën |
| 2023 Best Social Media Campaign (Bike) | TVS Sport ‘Mileage ka Baap’ |
| 2023 Best Social Media Campaign (Car) | Skoda for Skoda x Giphy |
| 2023 Brand Ambassador of the Year | Virat Kohli (Audi India) |
Further, the Viewers’ Choice Awards under various categories were conferred upon:
| 2023 ACKO Drive Viewers’ Choice Bike | Honda CB 300F |
| 2023 ACKO Drive Viewers’ Choice Tech | Honda City- Honda Sensing |
| 2023 ACKO Drive Viewers’ Choice Car | Mahindra Scorpio – N |
The aim of the Viewers’ Choice Awards is to obtain valuable feedback from customers about companies and manufacturers. Additionally, it fosters a sense of involvement and proprietorship among viewers, resulting in greater engagement.
Siddharth Vinayak Patankar, Chief Creative Officer, ACKO Tech, said, “Initiatives like the ACKO Drive Awards are aimed at recognising and rewarding excellence. It is crucial to celebrate the hard work and dedication of individuals and products that have contributed to the growth and development of the automotive industry. And it is vital that in the clutter of awards, we follow a process that is truly transparent and comprehensive. The inaugural ACKO Drive Awards are without a doubt the country’s most credible automobile honours. The pride and celebration we see from the winners, and the appreciation from our audience are further proof of this.”
Rajesh Jejurikar, Executive Director and CEO, Auto and Farm, Mahindra and Mahindra was awarded the 2023 ACKO Drive Person Of The Year. Tarun Mehta, Founder of Ather, was the first winner of the Jagdish Khattar Rising Star Award – an honour that recognises a promising achiever in the startup or automobile manufacturing and engineering realms.
“I strongly believe that the awards like these have a positive impact not only on the winners but also on the entire industry. Acknowledging excellence stimulates healthy competition and encourages innovation and growth, which ultimately benefits consumers. I congratulate all the winners of the ACKO Drive Awards and hope that this initiative will inspire others in the industry to strive for excellence”, added Siddharth.
The winners were selected after a rigorous evaluation process that included assessment by three separate expert juries for Bike, Car, and Communications. Consumer opinion and sentiment is also recognised in the Viewers’ Choice awards. The platform will continue to promote and encourage innovation and best practices in the Indian automobile industry and showcase the latest trends and developments in the sector.
