The Road to the 2020 World Car Awards concluded with the declaration of the Mazda 3 as the 2020 World Car Design of the Year. “Before accepting this prize, Mazda Motor Corporation would like to express our sympathy for all of those affected by the novel coronavirus,” said Akira Marumoto, Representative Director, President, and CEO, Mazda Motor Corporation. “We are truly honored to be able to receive the World Car Design of the Year award in this special year marking the 100th anniversary of Mazda’s foundation. We will continue providing our customers with unique products, designs, technologies, and experiences.” The World Car Design of the Year category, and the corresponding award, are meant to highlight new vehicles with innovation and style that push established boundaries.

This year, the cars eligible for the 2020 World Car Design of the Year award encompassed all the contenders competing in the other five award categories. A design panel consisting of seven highly respected world design experts was asked to first review each candidate, and then establish a short-list of recommendations for the jurors. The design experts are in alpha order: Anne Asensio (France – Vice-President, Design – Dassault Systemes), Gernot Bracht (Germany – Pforzheim Design School), Ian Callum (United Kingdom – Director of Design, CALLUM), Patrick le Quément (France – Designer and President of the Strategy Committee – The Sustainable Design School), Tom Matano (USA – School of Industrial Design at Academy of Art University in San Francisco), Gordon Murray (U.K. – Gordon Murray Design) and Shiro Nakamura (Japan – CEO, Shiro Nakamura Design Associates Inc.).