HMG wins Automaker of the Year at 2026 AutoTech Awards

By AI, Created 3:16 PM UTC, May 29, 2026, /AGP/ – Hyundai Motor Group won Automaker of the Year as the 2026 AutoTech Awards joined with the Wards 10 Best Awards for the first time in Novi, Michigan. The gala recognized companies and products advancing connected mobility, software, AI, safety and the connected-car business ahead of the AutoTech conference June 3-4.

Why it matters: - The 2026 AutoTech Awards spotlighted the companies and technologies shaping connected mobility, software-defined vehicles and the connected-car economy. - The first-time combination with the Wards 10 Best Awards created a larger industry stage for automotive recognition inside Informa’s partner network. - The awards highlight where automakers and suppliers are competing now: AI, connectivity, safety, in-vehicle experience, cybersecurity and data platforms.

What happened: - The 2026 AutoTech Awards were held June 2 in Novi, Michigan, under the theme “Where Innovation Meets Excellence.” - Edward Wilford, senior research director at Omdia Automotive, hosted the gala. - HMG/Hyundai Motor Group won Automaker of the Year, the night’s top honor. - John Heinlein, chief marketing officer of Sonatus, presented the award for the fourth consecutive year as the category sponsor. - The AutoTech Awards joined forces with the Wards 10 Best Awards for the first time. - AutoTech, Omdia Automotive and WardsAuto, all Informa partners, were part of the combined ceremony. - The event honored winners across 12 categories, split between six Company Awards and six Product/Service Awards.

The details: - Judges cited HMG’s consistent performance, including three consecutive World Car of the Year wins, a dedicated EV platform, 800-volt fast charging and regular IIHS Top Safety Pick+ results. - Magna won Tier-1 of the Year for vehicle integration, modular powertrain coverage from 48V to 800V and 100 million radars shipped. - Mercedes-Benz won the Automaker AI Excellence Award for Level 3 autonomy, MB.OS integration and agentic AI at the edge on its new CLA platform. - Parkopedia and Hyundai Autoever won the Automotive-Tech Partnership Award. - Aeris won the Connectivity Leader Award. - KPIT won the Software Leader Award. - NXP Semiconductors won the Semiconductor & Hardware Excellence Award for its S32N7 Super-Integration Processor Series for Software-Defined Vehicles. - Kardome won the In-Vehicle Experience Award for Kardome In-Vehicle Voice AI. - Swift Navigation won the ADAS & Safety Technology Award for Skylark Precise Positioning Service. - KPIT Technologies won the Cloud & Data Solutions Award for KPIT Data Platform. - Embitel Technologies, a Volkswagen Group company, won the Testing & Validation Excellence Award for Verification and Validation Solutions. - PlaxidityX won the Cybersecurity Excellence Award for vCore. - The ceremony also included the Women Automotive Leader of the Year and People & Culture Excellence Award, presented by Stephanie May of the Women Automotive Network. - The Automotive Women’s Alliance Foundation announced its June 2026 scholarship recipients at the event. - Zilogic sponsored the event as a Supporter Sponsor. - Sonatus served as Category Sponsor. - Stingray was the Supporter Sponsor for the Wards 10 Best Interiors & UX Award.

Between the lines: - The combined awards show an industry push to connect hardware, software and user experience under one recognition platform. - The winner list also reflects where suppliers are building leverage: processors, voice AI, positioning, validation, data infrastructure and cybersecurity. - The emphasis on connected-car monetization suggests the industry is looking beyond vehicle sales to recurring digital revenue.

What’s next: - AutoTech 2026 conference and exhibition runs June 3-4. - The event is built around the theme “Monetizing the Connected Car.” - Sessions and networking will focus on connectivity, software innovation, user experience and ADAS technologies. - AutoTech will continue positioning itself as a conference and exhibition for automakers, suppliers and mobility technology companies.

The bottom line: - Hyundai Motor Group took the top honor at a ceremony designed to showcase the next phase of automotive competition: connected, software-driven and increasingly monetized.