The “Latvian Car of the Year” competition will be held for the 26th time this year, and automotive journalist Normunds Avotiņš has been confirmed as the chairman of the competition jury. This year, the latest car models will be evaluated by a jury of 15 car experts – automotive journalists, motor sportsmen and managers of the largest car fleets.
Normunds Avotiņš is a well-known car journalist in the community, creator and host of “TV Autoziňa” and “StarFM” radio programs, and he has also been a jury member of the “Latvian Car of the Year” competition for a long time In this position, Avotiņš replaces the vice-chairman of the jury of the competition, the auto journalist Ati Jansons, who started the competition “Latvian Car of the Year” in 1997 and was the chairman of the jury the competition 25 times.
Jury members from previous competitions Photo: Latvijas Gada Auto
The mission of “Latvian Car of the Year” is to help evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of the latest cars.
About 350 new car models in different versions from more than 45 car brands are available on the Latvian car market, but several dozen new models reach our market every year – both the latest generations of models that in and models not seen before. Therefore, it is very easy for customers to get confused in the wide selection.
Normunds Avotiņš, jury chairman of the Latvian “Car of the Year 2025” competition underlining the need to help people navigate the wider offer: “It’s clear that the car industry and the concept of the private car are at a crossroads at the moment. Even the best known expert cannot predict with certainty where we are going. As can be seen, the green course and electromobility are not being implemented at the planned pace – also for objective reasons. This means that a proliferation of different technologies awaits us. This, in turn, causes a lot of confusion among people. I think the main task of “Latvian Car of the Year”, like any Car of the Year competition, is to help people understand and navigate the range of car models, and not just highlight the the best, the most beautiful, the most powerful or the most enduring. car models. We need to be able to explain what the car really is, why it is intended and what its vision is for the future. The task of the competition is, first of all, to help buyers to make the right choice, not to suggest again car manufacturers and dealers – this, in my opinion, is the mission of new competition “Latvian Car of the Year”. “
Māris Ozoliņš and Atis Jansons Photo: Car of the Year in Latvia
They are talking about “Latvian Car of the Year 2025”. tournament organizer Māris Ozoliņš: “This year is the 26th time we evaluate and reward the latest car models available in Latvia. I am very grateful to Atis Jansons for his contribution to the “Latvian Car of the Year” competition, both by starting this competition in Latvia and as its chairman the jury. At the same time, I am glad that one of the leading Latvian automotive journalists, Normunds Avotiņš, has agreed to be the chairman of the jury in the future. Several interesting novelties were submitted for participation in the “Latvian Car of the Year 2025” competition. Competition is fierce in the ‘premium’ segment, where there are strong competitors from Porsche, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Audi and Volvo. GWM China also says Wey is a key sector. Popular models this year can also be found in the class of compact SUVs – the new Dacia Duster, Cupra Formentor, Toyota C-HR, Škoda Kodiaq and Volkswagen Tiguan. Also, other manufacturers offer attractive car models, so the jury has to do a lot of research to evaluate them and give their opinion.”
The jury has 15 members – professionals in the automotive industry
The jury of the “Latvia Car of the Year 2025” competition consists of automotive journalists, managers of the largest car fleets in Latvia, car engineers and service managers, as well as motor sportsmen and heads of car industry organizations . Each member of the jury must drive all the cars entered for the competition Therefore, the members of the jury do the two test drives separately and participate in different drives organized by the “Latvijas Gada auto” competition. The most important of them – the Great test test will happen very soon – at the beginning of November, when the application for new cars will be ready and all applicants will be available to the jury in one place for testing and evaluation.
The jury of the “Latvian Car of the Year 2025” competition has 15 members:
- Aldis Zelmenis, car journalist, “TV Autozína”;
- Andris Valdemārs, transport supply director, “Latvenergo” JSC;
- Artūrs Virbulis, press secretary of the Latvian Automobile Federation;
- Guntars Puls, car journalist, editor-in-chief of “Profi Latvija”;
- Jānis Bite, head of farm administration, “Latvijas Valsts meži” JSC;
- Jānis Rapa, head of infrastructure support department, “Tet” SIA;
- Jānis Vanks, racing driver, director of “Safe Driving School”;
- Juris Zvirbulis, LAMB car club president;
- Normunds Avotiņš, car journalist, “TV Autozišna”, jury chairman of the competition “Latvian Car of the Year 2025”;
- Paul Timrots, director, “Zebra TV”;
- Raimonds Volonts, board member of STZELNA and LAIA, technical director of “V4motors”;
- Raimonds Zandovskis, car journalist, editor of “Delfi Auto”;
- Sandris Metuzāls, automotive journalist, “Jauns.lv”;
- Tom Timoshko, car journalist, “Klubs” magazine;
- Viesturs Leitholds, car journalist, “iAuto.lv”.
The results of the competition and the awarding of the winners will take place on December 12 this year, live on TV and the Internet at 19.00. Last year, the Nissan X-Trail became the “Latvian Car of the Year 2024”.
Supported by: classifieds portal Zip.lv, t/c Mols, news portal jauns.lv, iAuto.lv, Delfi, TV Auto news, Klubs, Dieviete.lv, LAMB, V4 motors.
Atis Jansons, founder of the competition “Latvian Car of the Year” and chairman of the jury for 25 years. Photo: Latvian Car of the Year
Raimonds Zandovskis, car journalist, editor of “Delfi Auto” Photo: Latvijas Gada Auto
Toms Timoško, car journalist, magazine “Klubs” Photo: Latvijas Gada Auto
Jānis Rapa, head of infrastructure support department, “Tet” SIA Photo: Latvijas Gada Auto
Artūrs Virbulis, press secretary of the Latvian Automobile Federation Photo: Latvijas Gada Auto
Sandris Metuzāls, car journalist, “Jauns.lv” Photo: Latvijas Gada Auto
Jānis Bite, head of farm administration, “Latvijas Valsts meži” JSC Photo: Latvijas Gada Auto
Jury of the competition “Latvijas Gada Car 2024” Photo: Latvijas Gada Car
Participant cars in the 4×4 session Photo: Latvijas Gada Auto
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2024-10-26 10:58:00
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