This award is unique

The Automotive Brand Contest is the only neutral, international design competition for automobile brands and has emerged as an worldwide important event in the sector. With the competition the German Design Council honours outstanding product and communication design and draws attention to the fundamental importance of brand and brand design in the automotive industry. In this context the focus is on the integral and consistent use of the brand across all media and products.

The winners of the Automotive Brand Contest will be presented on the occassion of the Salon “Mondial de l’Automobile” as part of a festive awards ceremony on 29 September 2020. The Salon „Mondial de l’Automobile“ is one of the most important international automotive shows.
Accompanied by a wideranging PR and communication campaign, the unrestricted use of the winner labels, as well as bespoke media concepts created for the winners, the Automotive Brand Contest 2020 will enable international media presence that is highly effective in terms of marketing.

»To receive the ›Design Team of the Year 2019‹ award as an appreciation for our steady efforts to shape contemporary UX for the user interfaces of future car generations, is a special honor for our design team. Furthermore, it is a strong signal to further increase the visibility of our innovation strength on the market.«

Jochen Möller, Continental Automotive GmbH, Leading Expert, User Experience & Interaction Design

What the Contest has to offer

The award

The Automotive Brand Contest guarantees long-term, neutral observation of marque presence in an international context for all companies in the automotive and supply industries, design, brand and communication agencies, and imported marques.

The award ceremony

All winners are invited to the Automotive Brand Contest 2020 festive gala dinner with guests from the world of economy, culture, design and media. On this exclusive evening, you and the awarded work will be celebrated, while making valuable contacts.

The catalogue

The Winner award receive a one-page entry in the publication, Best of Best receive a two-page entry. The awards Brand of the Year, Team of the Year, Agency of the Year and Innovation of the Year each receive a four-page entry in the publication.

Online exhibition

The online exhibition will be presenting the rewarded products/projects with picture and text.

Marketing services

In the event of winning, a comprehensive marketing package will be made available to the winners: LABEL (unlimited use of the respective label) – CATALOGUE – ONLINE GALLERY – WINNER'S CERTIFICATE – MEDAL (Best of Best & Special Categories) – PR PACKAGE – ATTENDANCE GALA-DINNER.

The award ceremony 2018 in Paris | Photo credit: Manuel Debus

The Organiser makes all the Difference

The German Design Council, the expert for brand and design in Germany, bestows the Automotive Brand Contest. Commissioned by the highest authority to represent new developments in the German design industry. Established on the initiative of the German Bundestag (the lower house of German parliament) as a foundation in 1953, it supports the industry in all matters consistently aimed at generating an added brand value through design. As a result, the German Design Council is one of the world’s leading competence centres for communication and brand management in the field of design. The exclusive network of foundation members includes in addition to designers and design associations, in particular the owners and brand directors of numerous renowned companies.

Website of the German Design Council

The jury session took place in Frankfurt am Main on 22 May 2019. Pictures: Nils Burock

“Brand and design have been the number one reason for purchase in the automotive world for many years. In times of digital transformation they also provide crucial guidance and form the framework for groundbreaking innovations, which the automotive industry so urgently needs. As the most important award in the industry, the Automotive Brand Contest honours the year's best international brand and design achievements and offers brand-makers and designers an outstanding media platform.”

Hans-Meier Kortwig

The Catalogue

The catalogue contains all winners and special award winners of the Automotive Brand Contest.

Order the catalogue