An electrical automobile has received the 2026 Automotive of the Yr title, at a time when there are rising issues about how most of the autos are being bought
The 2026 automobile of the yr has been introduced (Picture: Getty)
An electrical automobile has secured the official title of Automotive of the Yr, bringing residence the primary victory for its producer within the contest for over 50 years.
This yr, the Mercedes-Benz CLA saloon took residence the honours within the 63rd operating of the competitors that goals to formally establish the perfect automobiles on sale.
In a aggressive subject up in opposition to the likes of the Fiat Grande Panda, Kia EV4, Renault 4, Skoda Elroq, Citroen C5, and Dacia Bigster, the Mercedes got here out on high with 320 factors.
This marks the primary time Mercedes has been given the title for 52 years, after it initially received with the 450 SE/SEL in 1974.
In an announcement marking the automobile’s victory, the official Automotive of the Yr judges mentioned: “The Automotive Of The Yr award celebrates its 63rd version this yr and has carried out so by returning a premium model to the highest.
The Mercedes-Benz CLA received (Picture: Getty)
“This yr’s version was extra aggressive than ever, given that every one the finalist fashions had electrified options, and most of them have been 100% electrical.”
Second behind the Mercedes was the Skoda Elroq on 220 factors, and coming in third was the Kia EV4 with 208 factors. The Mercedes takes over the title from the Renault 5 EV that received final yr.
After the victory, Ola Källenius, Chairman of the Board of Administration of Mercedes-Benz Group AG remarked: “The brand new CLA was named Automotive of the Yr 2026 — a proud second for Mercedes Benz.
“Jurors from throughout Europe have confirmed what our prospects have been telling us: the CLA is a game-changer, delivering excellent effectivity and easy intelligence.”
In addition to coming in an all electrical kind, the CLA may also be bought as a hybrid or as an property automobile, or taking pictures brake, as it’s typically referred to.
It’s considered one of many automobiles that may be bought as both a hybrid or an all electrical car, as producers proceed to cope with the transition away from fossil fuels and the difficulties therein.
Latest information has steered that regardless of the federal government’s finest intentions, there was a short slowdown in electrical automobile uptake with current figures from the SMMT (Society of Motor Producers and Merchants) exhibiting a drop in share in contrast with final yr.
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In an announcement, they mentioned: “Uptake of battery electrical autos rose simply 0.1% to 29,654 models – delivering a 20.6% market share, the bottom since April 2025.
“The lower follows a robust 2025 January efficiency when uptake was pulled ahead as consumers sought to keep away from April’s introduction of recent tax charges on BEVs….The biggest progress was once more recorded in plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), rising 47.3% to account for 12.9% of registrations.”
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