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Volkswagen ID.7 Named Best Saloon, Andreas Mindt Wins Design Hero At Autocar Awards
Volkswagen has achieved notable success at the 2024 Autocar Awards, with the ID.7 being named Best Saloon and Andreas Mindt receiving the prestigious Design Hero award. The judges commended the ID.7 for its subtlety, restraint, and classiness, highlighting its lack of obvious weaknesses and quiet confidence.
"This big electric car begs to be underestimated; it is subtle, restrained and – dare we say it – classy," said the judges. "This is an electric saloon that makes few, if any, demands of its driver, combining superb road manners with intuitive driveability that makes any journey a cinch. It really is excellent."
The accolade for Andreas Mindt acknowledges his immediate impact since rejoining Volkswagen in 2023 and his 31-year career. His work includes modern classics like the Volkswagen Golf Mk VII and Audi e-tron GT. He also led the design of the limited-run Bentley Batur.
Mark Tisshaw, Autocar Editor, remarked: "Andreas Mindt is sparking fresh life into one of the world’s biggest car brands. Upon his return to Wolfsburg in February 2023 he had just weeks to pen the ID. 2all, a machine that neatly balanced modern design with retro flourishes and was incredibly well received. The concept was upbeat, friendly and infectiously enthusiastic – much like the man who led its design."
Rod McLeod, Volkswagen UK Director, expressed delight over these recognitions: "We are very pleased that Autocar – the world’s oldest, and one of the most respected, motoring titles – has presented Volkswagen and Andreas Mindt with these awards." He emphasized that the ID.7 represents luxury combined with engineering excellence and practicality.
After receiving his award, Andreas Mindt stated: "I am deeply honoured to receive the Design Hero award. This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire team. Together, we found a way to design the true Volkswagen, which is characterised by our design values: Stable, Likeable, and Secret Sauce. Our commitment to excellence and our passion for creating vehicles that resonate with our customers have driven us to achieve this milestone."
Volkswagen's Market Presence
In 2023, Volkswagen registered 162,087 new passenger vehicles in the UK according to SMMT data. This accounted for an 8.52% market share, marking a 0.35% increase from the previous year and making Volkswagen the UK's best-selling new-car brand for three consecutive years.
The brand has a global footprint with production facilities in 12 countries employing around 170,000 people. In 2023 alone, Volkswagen delivered approximately 4.87 million vehicles worldwide including popular models like Polo, T-Roc, T-Cross, Golf, Tiguan and Passat.
Awards Celebrating Automotive Excellence
The Autocar Awards are significant events in the automotive calendar recognising top achievers across various categories including design and engineering heroes as well as best cars available in the UK market.
Volkswagen's ACCELERATE strategy aims at becoming a leading brand for sustainable mobility by consistently advancing its all-electric vehicle offerings such as those under its successful ID series which saw about 394,000 units delivered globally in 2023.
This year's awards underscore Volkswagen's commitment to innovation while honouring individuals who contribute significantly towards shaping future automotive designs.
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