South-Korea based automaker Hyundai won its first North American Car of the Year award Sunday, when its Genesis captured the title at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan. In the truck category, embattled automaker Ford Motor Corp. (F)'s Ford F-150 captured the prize of North American Truck of the Year, beating out the Dodge Ram and Mercedes-Benz ML320 BlueTec.
The Genesis beat out two other finalists, Ford Motor Corp.'s Ford Flex and Volkswagen's Jetta.
The Genesis beat out the Ford Fled by only 9 votes, 189 to 180, the final tally showed. The Genesis represented a lower cost luxury vehicle and received wide praise from around the industry. With its price tag below $40,000, the Genesis "is the perfect luxury car for bad economic times," Hyundai Motor America president John Krafcik said.
The cheap luxury sedan poses a threat to competitors like BMW and Volkswagen, known for pricier luxury models.
Lindsay Brooke of Automotive Engineering International said in her review that Hyundai "really did its engineering homework," adding that the "surprising sedan shows how far and how fast Korea's top automaker has come in crashing the near-luxury sedan party."
Marc Lachapelle of MSN Autos remarked on the affordability of the Genesis.
"The Genesis might be the ultimate luxury Q-ship for difficult times," he said in a review. "Remarkably quiet, refined, comfortable, quick and well made, it can match the best of its European and Japanese rivals on substance and has them beat hands-down on price."
In 2008 General Motors captured the award with its Chevy Malibu.
Mark Fields, Ford's president of the Americas, accepted the award, thanking truck consumers for the "special distinction."The award" acknowledges the team's efforts to push harder and deliver even more for customers," Fields said.
"Ultimately, though, this award is a nod to true truck customers, who have inspired us to deliver America's favorite pickup for 32 straight years."
The 2008 North American Truck of the Year was the Mazda CX-9. Ford did not receive a nomination last year.John Gilbert of Newcarpicks.com praised the F-150 for its strength.
"Ford has clearly raised the bar for all-out workaholic pickups, with over-the-top engineering to create the ideal vehicle for farmers, ranchers, contractors, and any heavy-duty workers," he said in his review.
Fuel economy was the source of praise for the truck from Mark Phelan of the Detroit Free Press.
"A remarkably quite and comfortable truck that still offers class-leading fuel economy and towing capacity at a competitive price," Phelan said.
The North American Car and Truck of the year awards are now in their 16th year.
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June 12, 2026 17:14 ET Major central bank action was the focus this week in economic news. The European Central Bank became the first major central bank to move in response to the rising inflationary pressures in the backdrop of the conflict in the Middle East. In North America, the U.S. inflation and trade data as well as Canada’s central bank decision gained attention. The Chinese trade data was the main news in Asia.