For the third year in a row, leading short-term insurer Old Mutual Insure will be the headline sponsor of South Africa’s most prestigious motoring competition, the Car of the Year (COTY) for 2025, in partnership with the South African Guild of Mobility Journalists (SAGMJ). This year the sponsorship will see even more of a focus on road safety in the run-up to the festive season compared to previous years.
“We’re thrilled to be a part of this competition again,” said Jerry Anthonyrajah, Chief Commercial Officer of Old Mutual Insure. “Since its inception in 1986, COTY has set automotive benchmarks and rewarded excellence. Last year saw an exceptionally high standard of entries, and we cannot wait to see what this year’s competition has in store.”
The COTY competition assesses car entrants on various criteria, including design, technology, engineering, performance, handling, innovation, and safety. The COTY Jury features veteran motoring journalists such as TopGear SA’s Lerato Matebese and Brenwin Naidu from the Sunday Times. They are ready to start the comprehensive scoring process to find the ultimate winner. The announcement of the 2025 COTY semi-finalists is scheduled for December, with the finalist voting taking place early in the new year.
The 2024 ultimate COTY winner was the BMW 7 Series, which boasts safety features such as driver-assistance and sophisticated warning systems. Previous winners include the double-cab 4×4 Ford Ranger in 2023, the first-time top honours went to a bakkie, while the Toyota Corolla Cross was crowned victor in 2022.
We are seeing an increasing number of affordable Chinese cars gaining traction in South Africa, such as those by Chery and GWM,” commented Anthonyrajah. Despite the challenges posed by inflation and a difficult first half of the year, new vehicle sales in July displayed encouraging growth compared to the previous year. While new vehicle sales in September 2024 experienced a modest decline of 4.1%, there is cautious optimism as the industry begins to see signs of recovery, particularly in the passenger car segment. Year-to-date, new vehicle sales totalled 401,169 units, reflecting a decrease of 5.8% from the same period in 2023. The industry’s positive economic indicators, including recent interest rate cuts and lower fuel prices, may stimulate a more robust market as we approach year-end.
“We are excited to continue our successful partnership with Old Mutual Insure, which is founded on mutual respect,” asserted Thami Masemola, Chairperson of 2025 COTY and Vice-Chair of the South African Guild of Mobility Journalists. “It’s encouraging to witness the automotive industry’s commitment to delivering high-quality, advanced products for the modern motorist.”
“We believe the COTY competition adds value to consumers’ lives because it helps them make the right decisions when purchasing a car, with safety being a critical consideration set for many consumers,” said Anthonyrajah, adding that many car features today can enhance road safety. “We believe motoring innovation and quality has an impact on our customers, as safer vehicles lead to fewer accidents.”
He said that having adequate car insurance also adds peace of mind while you’re on the road, and that Old Mutual Insure has a range of products to suit every need at every stage of life.
It is because of this that Old Mutual Insure will be placing special emphasis on the importance of road safety during this year’s COTY competition. This aligns with the United Nations aiming to halve road fatalities by 2030.
“While the cars competing for top honours in the COTY competition are being tested, a road safety initiative driven by Old Mutual Insure will take place,” commented Anthonyrajah.
According to the Department of Transport, 1,427 road deaths were reported over the 2023/24 festive season. Driver behaviour played a strong role in most accidents, with reckless driving and speeding contributing to over 80% of car crashes, while bad weather affected over 10% of accidents.
“Given the optimism in the market, we are confident that this year’s COTY competition will continue to inspire South Africans to pursue driving excellence, as well as achieve safer roads for us all,” said Anthonyrajah.
Below are Old Mutual Insure and COTY’s top road safety tips ahead of the festive season:
- Before leaving to go on a long road trip, it is essential to make sure that your car is roadworthy. Take your vehicle for a full check-up before embarking on your holiday travels.
- Keep to the speed limit and guard against distractions, such as looking at your cell phone, while driving.
- If you are undertaking a long road journey, stop frequently to rest or take breaks.
- Check that your insurance cover is up to date and that you are adequately insured. Save the emergency numbers from your insurance on your phone.