NACTOY announces 30th anniversary eligible vehicles, charities

The 30th anniversary of the North American Car, Truck and Utility of the Year awards commenced with announcing an initial list of eligible vehicles for the 2024 NACTOY awards and charitable donations to four nonprofit organizations.

The three categories are North American Car of the Year, North American Truck of the Year, and North American Utility Vehicle of the Year.

NACTOY awards are intended to recognize the most outstanding new vehicles of the year. Vehicles are considered based on factors such as innovation, design, safety, handling, driver satisfaction, user experience and value. Three awards are given out.

This year, 52 vehicles, split between 16 cars, seven trucks and 29 utility vehicles, will be reviewed by NACTOY's jurors to determine a winner in each category. Sixteen vehicles are battery-electric.

Winners are selected through a three-part voting process by the jury of 50 automotive journalists from the U.S. and Canada. Richard Truett, Automotive News' technology and engineering reporter, is among the jurors.

NACTOY, in partnership with the Detroit Auto Dealers Association, will make a $40,000 donation to several charities to mark NACTOY's 30th anniversary. The Make-a-Wish Foundation, Tunnels to Towers Foundation, the Pope Francis Center and Friends for Animals of Metro Detroit will each receive a $10,000 donation.

"These awards are special because they represent a cross section of views from fifty top automotive journalists, each of whom look at vehicles from their own personal perspective," said NACTOY president Jeff Gilbert in a statement. "We leverage our own unique processes to come to a consensus that honors the best all new or totally redesigned vehicles in a model year."