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India’s Most trusted
Winners announcedHT Auto Leaderboard Awards 2026
Built on the legacy and trust of Hindustan Times, the HT Auto Leaderboard recognises the most significant and outstanding automotive achievements of the year.
2,000
Votes Cast
23
Awards
05
Jury Members
How We Evaluate
Participation Stats
Cars · Electric Vehicles · Two-Wheelers · Special Category
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Participants
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Award Categories
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India’s boldest automotive names, in the room.
Title Partner
Mercedes-Benz
Presenting the next chapter of Indian mobility.
Associate Partners
- BMW
- Audi
- Hyundai
- Mahindra
- Kia
- Ather
Category Partners
- Castrol
- Bosch
- Shell
- Bridgestone
- Hero MotoCorp
- TVS
At the Awards Night
conversations worth showing up for.
The HT Auto Leaderboard brings together automotive leaders, technology experts, policymakers and industry voices to debate the trends shaping India's mobility landscape.
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Panel 1
Make for the World: Is India ready to become the world’s auto powerhouse?
Industry leaders map the forces shaping the next decade of Indian mobility.
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Panel 2
Road to 2030: Ethanol, EVs & Beyond - India’s New Mobility Energy Mix
India’s mobility future will be shaped not by a single fuel, but by a diverse energy mix.
Public Voting
Voting closes on 24th September
Public voting is open for the Viewers' Choice category – separate from and independent of the jury’s scoring
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Voting closes 24.09.2026 · One vote per category
23 Award Winners
Meet the winners of the HT Auto Leaderboard Awards.
Cars · Electric Vehicles · Two-Wheelers · Special Category
Winners have been announced. You can browse the nominees.
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#01
Cars
Compact SUV of the Year
India’s favourite automotive formula has become remarkably crowded. Standing apart will require more than styling; the winner will need to deliver substance, versatility and an unmistakably convincing proposition.
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#02
Cars
Premium SUV of the Year
A premium badge and a long equipment list are no longer enough. The winner will need to combine refinement, technology, comfort and road presence into a genuinely desirable package.
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#03
Cars
Luxury Car of the Year
Luxury begins where the specification sheet ends. The winning car will create an atmosphere, tactile experience and sense of occasion that technology and expensive materials alone cannot manufacture.
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#04
Cars
Performance Car of the Year
Numbers make headlines; character makes memories. The eventual winner will be judged on how beautifully its power, chassis, steering and brakes come together when the road gets interesting.
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#05
Cars
Performance SUV of the Year
Fast in a straight line is only part of the equation. The winner will need to blend serious performance with engaging dynamics while retaining the practicality expected of an SUV.
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#06
Cars
VFM Car of the Year
Cheap is easy to understand. Value is harder. The winner will justify every rupee through the depth, quality, capability and longevity of what it puts into the owner’s hands.
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#07
Cars
Connected Car of the Year
The smartest car will not necessarily have the longest feature list. It will be the one where connectivity feels purposeful, intuitive and capable of genuinely improving the ownership experience.
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#08
Cars
Green Car of the Year
Cleaner mobility has many pathways. Whether through electrification, hybridisation, CNG or another approach, the winning car will prove that environmental responsibility can coexist with affordability and everyday relevance.
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#09
Cars
Hybrid Car of the Year
The best hybrids make efficiency feel effortless. The winner will need to balance real-world fuel economy with smooth performance and everyday usability.
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#10
Cars
SUV of the Year
Presence gets an SUV noticed; breadth earns it the award. The eventual winner will need to excel across urban life, long-distance travel and demanding terrain without losing its sense of polish.
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#11
Cars
Car of the Year
One category ultimately matters more than all the others. The winner will need to demonstrate an exceptional synthesis of design, engineering, technology, safety, performance, practicality and value.
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#12
Cars
Facelift of the Year
Facelifts are no longer just about cosmetic changes. The winner will need to show how thoughtful updates to a familiar product can make it feel relevant all over again.
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#01
Electric Vehicles
Electric SUV of the Year
Electrification gives the SUV a new vocabulary: instant torque, near-silent progress and software-defined capability. The winner will use those advantages without surrendering the versatility buyers expect.
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#02
Electric Vehicles
Luxury EV of the Year
Silence, speed and software have changed the definition of premium. The winning EV will go further, pairing these new luxuries with craftsmanship, comfort, exclusivity and an unmistakable sense of occasion.
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#03
Electric Vehicles
Affordable EV of the Year
The EV revolution will only matter at scale when ordinary buyers can participate. The winner will make the transition easier through sensible pricing, usable range, convenient charging and genuine practicality.
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#04
Electric Vehicles
Charging and Battery Innovation Award
The most transformative EV innovation may never be seen. This award will look beneath the surface for breakthroughs that improve how quickly, efficiently, safely and reliably electric vehicles store and use energy.
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#05
Electric Vehicles
EV Manufacturer of the Year
Selling electric vehicles is one thing; building confidence around them is another. The eventual winner will have advanced electrification through products, infrastructure, technology, service and long-term conviction.
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#06
Electric Vehicles
EV of the Year
The best EV should not feel like an electric version of something else. The winner will show how intelligently an electric powertrain can reshape performance, refinement, efficiency and everyday usability.
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#01
Two-Wheelers
Two-Wheeler Design of the Year
Some motorcycles and scooters make you stop and look back. This award celebrates the machine that got the proportions, details and personality just right.
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#02
Two-Wheelers
ADV of the Year
Adventure begins beyond the familiar. The winner will need to remain composed on highways, confident on broken surfaces and capable when tarmac disappears, without becoming burdensome in daily riding.
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#03
Two-Wheelers
Modern Classic of the Year
Retro-inspired motorcycles are everywhere, but getting the balance right is an art. This award recognises the bike that brings old-school charm without feeling stuck in the past.
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#04
Two-Wheelers
Premium Bike of the Year
At this end of the market, buying a motorcycle is rarely just about getting from A to B. Performance matters, but so do character, craftsmanship and the feeling it leaves you with.
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#05
Two-Wheelers
Scooter of the Year
The best scooter removes friction from everyday life. Yet convenience alone will not suffice; the winner will add refinement, comfort, efficiency, performance and thoughtful technology to elevate effortless urban mobility.
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#06
Two-Wheelers
Most Practical Electric Scooter of the Year
The most practical electric scooter will combine everyday usability, real-world range, comfort, convenience and value into a package that works for the widest range of riders.
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#07
Two-Wheelers
Bike of the Year
The best bike brings together design, engineering, performance, comfort and everyday usability to create an experience riders want to return to every day.
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#08
Two-Wheelers
Entry-bike of the Year
The best entry bike makes every ride feel accessible, capable and rewarding, balancing ease of use, confidence and value for new riders.
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#09
Two-Wheelers
All-rounder Bike of the Year
A true all-rounder must be comfortable in daily traffic, engaging on open roads and dependable across the demands of everyday riding.
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#10
Two-Wheelers
HT Auto Bike Manufacturer of the Year
One great motorcycle can grab headlines. Building a range of products that consistently connects with riders is what makes a great manufacturer.
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#01
Commercial Vehicles
Commercial Vehicle of the Year
For operators, downtime has a price. The winning commercial vehicle will therefore be judged by what it delivers to the business: productivity, payload, reliability, efficiency, uptime and sustainable operating costs.
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#02
Commercial Vehicles
Electric Commercial Vehicle of the Year
Commercial electrification cannot survive on environmental credentials alone. The winner will have to make the numbers work, balancing payload, range, charging, utilisation and operating economics with demanding real-world schedules.
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#03
Commercial Vehicles
Light Commercial Vehicle of the Year
An LCV earns its keep one trip at a time. The winner will maximise that earning potential through payload, manoeuvrability, efficiency, durability and an ownership equation that makes commercial sense.
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#04
Commercial Vehicles
Heavy Commercial Vehicle of the Year
Heavy transport is an unforgiving test of engineering. The winner will need to combine formidable hauling ability with durability, fuel efficiency, uptime, safety and technology that reduces the burden on drivers.
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#05
Commercial Vehicles
Last-Mile Mobility Vehicle of the Year
The final kilometre can be the most expensive, congested and complicated. The winning solution will tackle these realities with greater efficiency, accessibility and intelligence, whether carrying people or goods.
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#06
Commercial Vehicles
Fleet Innovation Award
Tomorrow’s fleet advantage may come from software rather than steel. This award will recognise innovations that turn data, connectivity and automation into tangible improvements in utilisation, safety, uptime and decision-making.
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#01
Leadership & Industry
Automotive Manufacturer of the Year
Products tell only part of an automaker’s story. The eventual winner will have combined strategic ambition, technological progress, execution and customer understanding to exert an unmistakable influence on India’s automotive industry.
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#02
Leadership & Industry
Emerging Automotive Brand
Every established player was once an outsider. The winner will challenge conventional thinking with credible products, a distinctive proposition and enough momentum to suggest that tomorrow’s automotive hierarchy could look different.
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#03
Leadership & Industry
After-sales Excellence Award
A showroom creates expectations; the workshop either fulfils or destroys them. The winning organisation will distinguish itself through accessible service, transparency, technical capability, innovation and an ownership experience worthy of trust.
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#04
Leadership & Industry
Made-in-India Excellence Award
“Made in India” is evolving from a manufacturing label into an engineering statement. The winner will showcase exceptional localisation, technical sophistication, quality or innovation developed with genuine Indian capability.
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#05
Leadership & Industry
Export Excellence Award
Competing abroad demands more than production scale. The eventual winner will demonstrate that Indian automotive expertise can satisfy demanding international markets through quality, competitiveness, consistency and products built to global expectations.
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#06
Leadership & Industry
Mobility Startup of the Year
The next important mobility idea may come from somewhere entirely unexpected. The winning startup will identify a meaningful problem, challenge established assumptions and turn its solution into credible commercial momentum.
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#07
Leadership & Industry
Automotive Personality of the Year
Some leaders influence markets; others influence direction. The eventual honouree will have left a mark on India’s automotive story through ideas, decisions, achievements or conviction that extend beyond their formal remit.
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#08
Leadership & Industry
Business Leader of the Year
Transformation rewards leaders who see around corners. The winner will have navigated disruption with strategic clarity, made consequential decisions and converted uncertainty into progress for the organisation they lead.
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#09
Leadership & Industry
Woman Leader in Mobility
Progress requires more than representation—it requires influence. The eventual winner will have translated leadership into meaningful outcomes, advancing business, technology, organisations or the broader mobility ecosystem through achievement and conviction.
There are no award winners in this group.
The Awards Ceremony
The moment of recognition.
An evening dedicated to recognising the vehicles, people and innovations shaping India’s automotive industry.
Expert Panel
Five people. Zero compromise.
Editorial expertise, on-track experience and industry insight — five independent perspectives behind one verdict.
How We Evaluate
Driven, tested, proven.
The HT Auto Leaderboard Awards will draw on three complementary measures to identify the most deserving winners.
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01 /03
HT Auto's Editorial Testing
HT Auto’s editorial testing will contribute 30%, assessing each contender through rigorous, real-world evaluation of performance, design, engineering, technology, safety, practicality and refinement, as relevant to each category.
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02 /03
Jury Deliberation
Jury voting will account for 40%, bringing the collective judgement of experienced industry voices, with due weight given to innovation, execution, relevance and impact.
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03 /03
Public Voting
30% will come from digital public voting, ensuring consumers and enthusiasts have a meaningful voice.
Be a part of it
Who Should Enter?
If you’re shaping the future of Earth’s mobility, this platform is for you.
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EV OEMs
EV OEMs across segments (2W, 3W, 4W, buses, CVs)
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Battery & Energy
Battery manufacturers and energy storage innovators
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Charging & Fleets
Charging infrastructure companies and fleet operators
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Components & Tech
EV component suppliers and technology providers
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EV Startups
Startups in EV innovation and services
Get in touch
Have a question? Let’s talk.
For marketing, sponsorship, partnership, or event-related queries, please get in touch with our team below.
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SA
For Nomination
Sonal Agarwal
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DB
For Sponsorship
Divya Babbar
Answers
Frequently asked questions
How are winners selected?
Winners are decided by a transparent, weighted model — 40% independent jury score, 30% instrumented real-world testing, and 30% public and ownership experience. Every result is driven by parameters, not perception.
Can the public vote?
Yes. HT Auto will invite its readers and automotive enthusiasts to participate in the voting process for selected categories. The public vote will provide an important consumer perspective, while the final awards will continue to be guided by HT Auto’s editorial evaluation and expert jury process.
Do manufacturers influence the results?
No. An independent jury reviews the dataset and votes category-by-category, with no OEM interference at any stage of the process.
When is the awards ceremony?
The HT Auto Leaderboard Awards 2026 will be held on 30 September 2026, 5:30 PM onwards, at The Grand, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi, India.
What counts as eligible for 2026?
Every India-launch of the year is compiled into a longlist across price and category segments, and assessed from there.
