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RULES AND REGULATIONS OF CONTEST TOP-5 AUTO AND CAR OF THE YEAR AWARDS

1. Main and Special Nominations

The goal of the contest TOP-5 AUTO is to identify the best cars in the calendar year in five main nominations:

  • Compact city car (segments A - mini, B - small, C - medium, D - large, M - multi-purpose according to Euro Car Segment classification, segments passenger car, MPV according to Euro NCAP classification)
  • Large and executive city car (segments E - executive, F - luxury, M - multi-purpose according to Euro Car Segment classification, segment passenger car according to Euro NCAP classification)
  • Compact crossover / SUV and off-road vehicle (segment J - sport utility car according to Euro Car Segment classification, segment off-roader according to Euro NCAP classification)
  • Large crossover / SUV and off-road vehicle (segment J - sport utility car according to Euro Car Segment classification, segment off-roader according to Euro NCAP classification)
  • Sports car / coupe / roadster / cabriolet (segment S - sport according to Euro Car Segment classification, segments passenger car, roadster according to Euro NCAP classification)

In the special nomination:

  • Light commercial vehicle / pick-up (segment LCV, cars with a total weight of up to 3.5 tons, used primarily for commercial purposes, segment pick-up according to Euro NCAP classification)

Also, the goal of the contest is to identify persons who have had the greatest influence on the development of automobile business in the Russian Federation during a calendar year, and the most effective PR-departments of car manufacturers in special nominations:

  • Auto-person of the Year - for outstanding achievements in the field of the automotive business in Russia.
  • The best PR-department of the automaker - for the expertise and effective communication.
  • The best marketing department of the automaker - for an innovative approach and implementation of effective advertising campaigns.

2. Criteria for the selection of candidates for nominees

Main nominations and the special nomination "Light commercial vehicle / pick-up"

In the main categories, as well as in the special nomination "Light commercial vehicle / pick-up", any new model of the car that has a Russian OTTD certificate (vehicle type approval) can become a candidate for nominees, regardless of the country of origin, which official sales in Russia started during the calendar year (12 months), i.e. in the period from the 1st of January to the 31st of December of the reporting year.

Absolutely new model for the Russian market or an existing model that has undergone significant changes in design, significantly affecting its consumer qualities is considered to be a "new" model. Typically, this is one deep restyling during the lifecycle of the model. The addition of a new power unit (engine) or gearbox to the lineup can be also taken into account when selecting candidates for nominees. Vehicles that have undergone only "cosmetic" changes due to the onset of the new model year are not participating in the contest. 

Varieties of the body such as coupe / convertible / roadster / cabriolet on the basis of one model are considered as the same model of the car. The exception to this rule is the 4-door coupes (for example, Mercedes-Benz CLS, Volkswagen Passat CC, BMW 6-Series or 4-Series Gran Coupé), which fall into the category Large and executive city car and are considered as independent models.

In order to facilitate the selection process for nominees, the evaluation of candidates for nominees by jury members takes place in electronic form. The Organizing Committee sends to the jury members a document in Excel format (see Chapter 6), in which the jury evaluates candidates for nominees in each category on a ten-point scale by the following criteria:

  • Price / Quality Ratio
  • Styling
  • Technical level / Innovations
  • Comfort
  • Usability

Sample template for evaluation of candidates for nominees:

List of candidate models for the nominees for the TOP-5 AUTO award.

 

List of candidates for the nominees for the category "The best PR-department of the automaker" of TOP-5 AUTO award.

List of candidates for the nominees for the category "The best marketing department of the automaker" of TOP-5 AUTO award.

Members of the jury evaluate only models familiar to them after test-drives during the reporting year.

During the data processing by the organizing committee, the average score for each candidate for the nominees is calculated. That means the total number of points collected by a candidate is divided by the number of judges who evaluated it.

Five candidates in each category with the best average scores become nominees.

In case two or more models of the same brand in the same category gain a passing average score for getting into nominees, a model with a higher average score is given preference among products of the same brand. It becomes a nominee.

The presence among the nominees of two or more models of the same brand is not allowed, except when there are no other candidates.

In other disputable cases, the chairman of the jury decides on the confirmation of the candidate.

When the chairman of the jury is implementing the selection of candidate models for nominees from those obtained the same number of points, factors such as technological innovations, the significance of the model for the Russian automotive market, as well as the car's value for money for a consumer should be key ones to base a decision upon.

In case a model absolutely new to the market and the existing significantly upgraded one get an equal number of points in the qualifying round, a new model is given priority in the selection of nominees.

In the event of disputes, a meeting of the jury members is appointed, in the course of which a decision is made collegially, which is approved by the chairman of the jury.

The special nomination "The Best PR-department of the automaker"

Members of the jury evaluate only PR-departments that they worked with during the reporting year.

In the special nomination "The best PR-department of the automaker", the evaluation of candidates takes place in two rounds the first of which consists of two stages. The first stage is conducted with the participation of the General partner on mass media monitoring Mediascope research company.

During this stage, automakers provide Meidascope with one press-release on any issue related to their business in Russia.

Until the 31st of December, Mediascope company determines 3 candidates which press-releases have proved the highest efficiency on the basis of mass media monitoring undertaken within 2 months after the press-releases issue date. 

The criteria for this evaluation are as follows:

  • The total number of publications in mass media on the basis of the press-release
  • Advertising equivalent of those publications
  • Per cent of the publications placed within the first 5 days after the press-release issuance

Each press-release gets points which are equivalent to its place among others (for example, if the total number of the press-releases under estimation were 33 the best press-release in terms of the number of publications gets 33 points).

The final point is obtained by summing up the points awarded to each press-release on the basis of the above-mentioned 3 criteria.

In the second stage of the first round jury members also determine 3 candidates.

In order to facilitate the selection process for nominees, the evaluation of candidates for nominees by jury members takes place in electronic form. The organizing committee sends to the jury members a document in Excel format (see Chapter 5) in which the jury evaluates the candidates for nominees in each category on a ten-point scale by the following criteria:

  • Quality of Communication Materials (including Web-site and pages in SM) 
  • Knowledge of products
  • Handling of Press-park
  • Quality of Press-tours Organization
  • Promptness and Completeness of Response 

As a result of both stages of the first round, 6 finalists are determined. If any of the candidates is duplicated in both lists - provided by the research company Mediascope and composed as a result of the jury voting - then 5 finalists are qualified for the second round.

Depending on the results of the first round in the next one members of the jury select the winner from 5 or 6 finalists based on the criteria mentioned above.

The special nomination "The Best marketing department of the automaker"

In the special nomination "The best marketing department of the automaker", the evaluation of candidates takes place in two rounds the first of which consists of two stages. The first stage is conducted with the participation of the General partner on mass media monitoring Mediascope research company.

At the first stage of the first round, the first 3 applicants (TOP-3) are determined. To determine them, we use data from monitoring advertising costs of car manufacturers for a calendar year (reporting period) in the Russian market.

At the second stage of the first round, the members of the "TOP-5 AUTO" jury also determine three candidates.

The selection of candidates is based on the assessment of advertising campaign cases prepared and carried out by the employees of the marketing departments of automakers in Russia during the reporting period to promote their cars.

In order to facilitate the selection process for nominees, the evaluation of candidates for nominees by jury members takes place in electronic form. The organizing committee sends to the jury members a document in Excel format (see Chapter 5) in which the jury evaluates the candidates for nominees in each category on a ten-point scale by the following criteria:

  • Original idea, innovative approach
  • The quality of performance and implementation of the idea
  • Effectiveness, achieved results


According to the results of the assessment by the jury members of the presented cases, three candidates are determined. Thus, based on the results of two stages of the first round, 6 finalists are determined. If one of the candidates is duplicated in two lists, then, respectively, five finalists remain.

As a result of both stages of the first round, 6 finalists are determined. If any of the candidates is duplicated in both lists - provided by the research company Mediascope and composed as a result of the jury voting - then 5 finalists are qualified for the second round.

By the end of April electronic copies (scans) of completed and signed ballots will be sent by jury members directly to the authorized auditing company KPMG, which counts votes and certifies ballots. The original completed ballots are also sent in special envelopes directly to the authorized audit company before the ceremony of awarding the winners.

Advertising campaigns applied for participation in the competition, must be conducted from January 1 to December 31 of the reporting year in Russia.

The case should include: a description of the advertising campaign, indicating the period of the campaign, the goals that the marketing department planned to achieve with the advertising campaign, its results, as well as a list of employees of the marketing team and agency responsible for preparing and implementing the campaign.

In addition to this, a video advertisement, a model of an advertisement layout in a press, a model of an Internet banner, an advertising radio advertisement, a model of an advertisement layout for outdoor advertising are provided. All advertising materials must refer to the same vehicle model.

Cases can be submitted to the competition both by the marketing departments of car manufacturers and by their authorized advertising agencies responsible for the creation of the advertising campaign.

The special nomination "Auto-person of the year"

In the special nomination "Auto-person of the year" nominees are selected based on the data of media monitoring conducted by the research company Mediascope on key persons in the Russian automotive business, motorsports and industry media.

The heads of Russian automakers, heads of representative offices of international automobile companies in Russia, experts of the automotive market, top managers of the largest dealer networks, public organizations, officials, publishers and chief editors of major industry media, racing drivers who have achieved notable results in national and international competitions participate in the monitoring.

When processing media monitoring data, the number of mentions and tonality of publications are taken into account.

The five best candidates according to media monitoring become nominees.

The key phases

By the end of October of the reporting year, the organizing committee of the award makes a long-list of candidates for nominees in accordance with the criteria set out in Chapter 2 of these rules and regulations and distributes tables for evaluating candidates for nominees to all members of the jury. In accordance with the approved criteria for the evaluation of candidates for nominees (see Chapter 2), the jury assesses the candidates by the end of January following the reporting year and sends the completed evaluation tables to the organizing committee.

Within two weeks after receiving all the evaluation tables, the organizing committee processes the results, checks the data with the chairman of the jury and by the end of February announces a list of five finalists (short-list of nominees) in all categories. 

During the procedure of the announcement of nominees or immediately after it, the organizing committee passes printed ballots for voting to all jury members.

The ballots include five nominees in each of the approved categories of the award (excluding nominees in the category "The best PR-department of the automaker" where it is acceptable to have 6 nominees in accordance to the rules of the nominees' selection in this category).

Members of the jury vote until the end of April, putting a mark in the ballots, for the best nominee in their opinion.

Voting for two or more nominees is not allowed.

The absence of the mark in the ballot is classified by the organizing committee as voting against all nominees.

By the end of April electronic copies (scans) of the filled and signed ballots (see Chapter 6 p. a) are sent by jury members directly to the indicated e-mail addresses of employees of the authorized audit company, which is engaged in counting votes and certifying ballots.

The originals of the completed ballots are also sent in special envelopes directly to the authorized audit company until the awarding ceremony is held.

Sample of the voting ballot:

 

 

 

In the event of disputes, a meeting of the jury members is appointed, in the course of which a decision is made collegially, which is approved by the chairman of the jury.

The results of the voting are publicly announced at the final awarding ceremony, which takes place in the second half of May.

Soon after the end of the final ceremony, the scans of the completed ballots of all the jury members are published on the award Web-site.

3. Procedure of the winner's selection and award of the CAR OF THE YEAR title

In 2019 the CAR OF THE YEAR title was established in Russia as a part of TOP-5 AUTO contest award.

Since the beginning of season 2019-2020, apart from the winners in each of the 5 main and one special automotive nominations the TOP-5 AUTO jury members select the one vehicle which in their opinion is the best of the best among all the nominees. It is awarded the CAR OF THE YEAR title - valid for one year - until the announcement of the next year's winner.

Selection of the Russian CAR OF THE YEAR is made from the list of all the vehicles which - as a result of voting - become the finalists and are included in the short-lists in all the main and one special nominations of TOP-5 AUTO award.

At the end of February, simultaneously with the announcement of the short-lists in all the categories, during the procedure of the announcement of the nominees or immediately after it, the organizing committee passes printed ballots (see Chapter 6 p. b) for voting for the CAR OF THE YEAR to all the jury members.

In the ballots, all 30 vehicles nominated for the short-lists are mentioned.

The jury evaluates nominees by the following criteria:

  • Price / Quality Ratio
  • Styling
  • Technical level / Innovations
  • Comfort
  • Usability  

Members of the jury vote until the end of April, putting a mark in the ballots, for the best nominee in their opinion.

Voting for two or more nominees is not allowed.

The model of a vehicle which got a simple majority of the jury members' votes becomes the winner.

By the end of April electronic copies (scans) of the filled and signed ballots are sent by the jury members directly to the indicated e-mail addresses of employees of the authorized audit company, which is engaged in counting votes and certifying ballots.

The originals of the completed ballots are also sent in special envelopes directly to the authorized audit company until the awarding ceremony is held.

In the event of disputes, a meeting of the jury members is appointed, in the course of which a decision is made collegially, which is approved by the chairman of the jury.

The results of the voting are publicly announced at the awarding ceremony, which takes place in the second half of May.

Soon after the end of the awarding ceremony, the scans of the completed ballots of all the jury members are published on the award's Web-site. 

 The CAR OF THE YEAR logo is officially registered mark on the territory of the Russian Federation.

4. Jury

The jury members are invited to participate in the contest on the basis of their professional competence, reputation, recommendations from colleagues, managers of PR-departments of automotive manufacturers and influence of the mass media that they represent.

Annually each member of the jury needs to confirm that the testing of cars is an important part of his professional activity by providing the organizing committee with reports on tests of current models in the form of links to publications on Internet, electronic versions (scans) of publications in print media, podcasts, video reports.

Each jury member must be as objective as possible in assessing the products, during voting especially take into account factors such as the significance of a product for the Russian automotive market and the development of the automobile industry as a whole, technical innovations and the ratio of the product's value and of the benefits that the consumer receives.

Before a new member gets permanent status in TOP-5 AUTO / CAR OF THE YEAR jury a candidate must work as an Observer during 6 months' period within one season (from October till April).

In status of Observer, the candidate is invited to participate in all the events of TOP-5 AUTO.

After six months' work as an Observer, the candidate gets a permanent status of the jury member, with the right to vote and participates in the final vote of the season.

A jury member may be expelled from the jury for the following reasons:

1. Own decision on leaving the jury;

2. Refusal to participate in the qualifying round and the final voting;

3. Change in the sphere of activity.

The chairman of the jury of TOP-5 AUTO award is selected for a period of two years.

Elections of the chairman of the jury are held by voting of the jury members after the presentation of all candidates by the organizing committee.

Any member of the jury can nominate himself for the role of chairman by nominating his own candidacy, or at the suggestion of an initiative group.

If by the end of the term of an appointment of the chairman of the jury no new candidate is nominated, and the chairman does not declare his wish to resign, his term automatically extends for the next 2 years. 

5. Sample template for evaluation of candidates for nominees:

6. Samples of the voting ballots

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a. Sample of the voting ballot:

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b. Sample of the voting ballot:

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Information partners

  • Business and general interest media
  • Automotive Media