The 2027 World Car of the Year candidates highlight the growing presence of Chinese automakers in the global automotive market, with 27 of the 56 vehicles currently eligible for the award coming from Chinese marques. The field also includes models with Chinese ownership ties, further expanding the influence of Chinese automotive brands in this year’s competition.
Chinese Automakers Represent Nearly Half the Field
The World Car Awards have around 100 automotive jurors from across the globe, bringing a range of perspectives to the judging process. The current candidate list includes 56 models, with Chinese marques accounting for 27 entries, or nearly half of the field.
The number grows further when models with Chinese ownership ties are considered, including the Volvo EX60. The MG4 EV Urban is also included among the Chinese-linked entries because MG, which has British roots, is fully owned by Chinese automaker SAIC Motor.
2027 World Car of the Year Candidates
The Chinese marques represented in the current field include BYD, Changan, Chery, Deepal, Exeed, GAC Aion, Geely, iCAUR, Jetour, Leapmotor, Lepas, Lynk & Co, Onvo, XPeng and Zeekr.
The 27 Chinese-marque entries are BYD Ti7, Changan Nevo Q05, Chery Q, Deepal S05, Deepal S07, Exeed Exlantix ET, Exeed RX, GAC Aion UT, GAC Aion V, Geely EX2, Geely Starray EM-i, iCAUR v23, Jetour G700, Jetour T2, Leapmotor B10, Leapmotor C10, Leapmotor T03, Lepas L6 EV, Lepas L8 PHEV, Lynk & Co 900, Onvo L90, XPeng G6 2026 Edition, XPeng L03, XPeng P7+, and Zeekr 8X. The MG4 EV Urban is also part of this group.
The rest of the field includes BMW i3, Buick Electra E7, Chevrolet Aveo, Chevrolet Captiva EV/PHEV, Cupra Raval, DS N°7, Hyundai Bayon, Hyundai Ioniq 3, Hyundai Tucson, Infiniti QX65, Kia EV2, Kia Seltos, Kia Syros EV, Kia Telluride, Lexus ES, Lincoln Corsair, Mazda CX-5, Mazda CX-6e/EZ-60, Mercedes-Benz Electric C-Class, Mercedes-Benz Electric GLC, Mercedes-Benz GLA, Nissan Frontier Pro, Nissan NX8, Polestar 4 SUV, Renault Filante, Subaru Trailseeker, Subaru Uncharted, Volkswagen Atlas/Teramont Pro, and Volvo EX60.
Electric Vehicles Have Dominated Recent Winners
Every World Car of the Year winner since 2021 has been an all-electric model. The Volkswagen ID.4 won in 2021, followed by the Hyundai Ioniq 5 in 2022, Hyundai Ioniq 6 in 2023, Kia EV9 in 2024, Kia EV3 in 2025, and, most recently, the BMW iX3 in 2026.
That recent streak provides context for the current competition and offers an indication of the type of vehicle that could emerge as the winner of this edition.
Eligibility Requirements for the 2027 Award
Vehicles competing for the award must meet several requirements. They must have annual production of at least 10,000 units, be priced below luxury-car levels in their primary markets, and be available in at least two major markets across two continents between January 1, 2026, and March 19, 2027.
Eligible vehicles must also be either all-new or significantly new.
Testing and Final Voting
The 2027 competition marks the 23rd awards season. Jurors are scheduled to test-drive eligible vehicles through January 2027, with the top 10 finalists set to be announced on January 5.
Additional testing and voting will follow before the 2027 World Car of the Year winner is revealed on March 24, 2027, at the New York International Auto Show.
