Tata Nano wins the Indian Car of the Year (ICOTY) Award

The Tata Nano has won the Indian Car of the Year (ICOTY) award, which  as been modelled along the lines of the US, European and Japanese car of the year, awards.

The ICOTY award and Indian Motorcycle of the Year (IMOTY) award have been instituted by major auto magazines in India, in association with JK Tyre.

The awards a review of all new cars and motorcycles launched in the calendar year in India. An 11-member jury comprising senior automobile journalists from leading auto magazines vote for the most impressive car and motorcycle on similar parameters to international awards for automotive excellence.

The ten finalists selected by the jury, besides the Tata Nano, were the Chevrolet Cruze, Honda Jazz, Fiat Linea, Fiat Grande Punto, Maruti Suzuki Ritz, Mahindra Xylo, Skoda Superb, Tata Indigo Manza, and Toyota Fortuner.

There was a close contest for the ICOTY award and after all points were tabulated,  the Tata Nano with 63 points emerged the winner.

Tata Motors' managing director PM. Telang received the award from the vice chairman and managing director of JK Tyre Industries Ltd, R P Singhania, at a ceremony in New Delhi on December 20.

The jury  for the 2010 ICOTY included Yogendra Pratap and Vikrant Singh of Auto Bild India, Gautam Sen and Bob Rupani of Auto India, Bijoy Kumar Y and Srinivas Krishnan of Business Standard Motoring, Aspi Bhathena of Car India, Sirish Chandran and Bertand D'souza of Overdrive and Vardhan Kondvikar and Girish Karkera of Top Gear India.