Bloomberg TV India - Autocar Awards 2013: Renault Duster gets 'Car of the Year'; Bajaj KTM 200 Duke gets 'Bike of the Year'

India’s premier business news channel Bloomberg TV India and India’s definitive guide to the auto industry – Autocar India magazine today presented the ‘The Bloomberg TV Autocar India Awards 2013’ at a glittering ceremony in Mumbai. A total of 21 awards were given away across two and four wheeler segments.

The Indian vehicle manufacturing industry has grown at  about 13% CAGR over the last 10 years and contributes 6% to India’s GDP. The Bloomberg TV Autocar India Awards  this year salutes this role of the automotive sector  that’s  driving growth in the Indian economy.  The Awards celebrates the achievements of the sector as well as individual players who have strived
hard to achieve this success.

In the four wheeler segment, Renault Duster made a sensational debut by winning the ‘Car of the Year (Jury’s Choice), ‘Viewers Choice Car of the Year’ and ‘SUV of the Year’ Awards while Mahindra and Mahindra won the ‘Manufacturer of the Year’. In the two wheeler segment, ‘Bajaj KTM 200 Duke’ won the Bike of the Year (Jury’s Choice) and the ‘Viewers Choice Bike of the Year’ Awards. The list of award winners across all categories is annexed.

The Bloomberg TV Autocar India Awards 2013 sets the standard for the Automotive Industry and honors the best-in class vehicles launched by the industry over the last one year.  The winners were selected by an eminent jury on the basis of extensive & grueling track tests and a detailed methodology.

The jury panel that selected the winners from the top contenders in each category comprised of experts like  Hormazd Sorabjee (Editor - Autocar India); Narain Karthikeyan (India’s first Formula 1 Driver);  Renuka Kirpalani (Editor  – Autocar India show); Shapur Kotwal (Deputy Editor - Autocar India & Editor - What Car? India); Kartikeya Singhee (Consultant Editor – Autocar India Show); Manvendra Singh (India’s leading Automotive Historian & Restorer); Rishad Cooper (Two Wheeler Editor - Autocar India); C S Santosh (Motocross Rider);  Rustam Mazda (Designer  - PININFARINA S.P.A.); Ouseph Chacko (Assistant Editor – Autocar India) and Sumantra Barooah (Associate Editor- Autocar Professional).

Sriram Kilambi, President – Bloomberg TV India while speaking on the occasion said, “India is currently ranked 6th in terms of global light vehicle sales and the Indian Auto industry is expected to grow at an average of around 11% in the next four years. Auto sector contributes 6% to India’s GDP, it is critical that a business channel is closely associated  with  this vital
sector.”

Kilambi, speaking about the Awards said, “The Bloomberg  TV Autocar India Awards have grown over the last four years and are today one of the most prestigious and respected in the category. We at Bloomberg are proud of our association with the Autocar team that helps us build and maintain a close relationship with the sector and celebrate its success. The Awards Ceremony was graced by Sachin Tendulkar, Rajya Sabha MP and renowned cricketer; Suresh P. Prabhu, Former Union Minister of Power and noted Bollywood actor

Arjun Rampal as Guests of Honour. The evening was hosted by Mini Menon, Executive Editor – Bloomberg TV India and Renuka Kirpalani, Editor - The Autocar India Show on Bloomberg TV India. The Bloomberg TV Autocar India Awards 2013 was presented by HDFC Bank. KPMG India was the Knowledge Partners and JBL, the sound partners for the Awards. A special episode on the Awards function will be telecast exclusively on Bloomberg TV India on January 12th at 8 pm and January 13th at 1.30 pm.