AM Awards | The 2023 categories

Entries for the 2023 awards are now open! 

If you would like to enter the awards go to our 'award categories and entry process' page. 

(* audited category)

 

Online Consumer Experience of the Year - Franchised Dealer

Sponsored by SecretService™

Dealers entering this award category should provide an excellent, comprehensive, customer-focused digital experience for consumers who are searching online for their next car, whether new or used.

 

Online Consumer Experience of the Year - Independent Dealer 

Sponsored by Evolution Funding

Dealers who enter this award category should provide an excellent, comprehensive, customer-focused digital experience for consumers who are searching online for their next car, whether new or used.

 

Marketing Strategy of the Year

Sponsored by CarGurus | PistonHeads

Marketing should help you to build your brand as well as to find new customers and help you to grow sales in the short term. Open to dealers of cars or LCVs, whether independent or franchised, and vehicle manufacturers.

 

Best in Customer Service

Sponsored by LTK Consultants 
Entrants should have a customer-centric culture and take pride in strong satisfaction scores, but never allow complacency and react robustly to fix the situation whenever things go wrong.

 

Leader in Diversity and Inclusion 

Sponsored by Assurant

Bringing diversity and inclusion together provides a holistic opportunity to recognise and honour the companies that are looking after their staff in the best possible way by being an inclusive employer that priorities the mental health and wellbeing of their staff.  

 

The Community Hero award 

 

We want to recognise dealerships that are deeply rooted in their communities, support local causes and organisations, and have a culture of giving something back.

 

Best New Product or Service (supplier category)

Sponsored by SecretService™

Open to industry suppliers that are helping to change dealers’ fortunes. We expect to see innovation and measurable results, including examples of beneficial use by your customers.

 

New Car of the Year 

Sponsored by Supagard

Selected by a combination of readers’ and judges’ votes.

 

Used Car of the Year

Sponsored by Car Care Plan

Selected by a combination of readers’ and judges’ votes.

 

EV of the Year

Sponsored by Diamondbrite

Selected by a combination of readers’ and judges’ votes.

 

Hybrid Vehicle of the Year (NEW)

 

Selected by a combination of readers' and judges' votes.

 

EV Dealership of the Year

Sponsored by PIB Automotive

Outlets that have embraced electric vehicle sales should enter this category, demonstrating their success in developing a strong local market. 

 

Used Car Dealer of the Year*

Sponsored by Santander Consumer Finance

This award is open to any company or group that sells used cars and is intended to recognise those who have turned the practice into an art form – not to say a hugely successful and profitable business.

 

Independent Workshop of the Year

 

The independent vehicle servicing sector accounts for a huge proportion of the UK's annual car service, repair and maintenance market, and many independent workshops are absolutely at the top of their game. This award seeks to recognise a superb, outstanding performer. 

 

Franchised Workshop of the Year

Sponsored by Bumper

The workshop is a critical contributer of profitability and customer retention to a franchised dealership. This award seeks to recognise a superb, outstanding franchised service site. 

 

Leasing Operation of the Year 

Growth in business and personal contract hire means that a swathe of motor retailers are now meeting their customers’ needs outside the traditional confines of a branded showroom.  Able to source new cars from a broad range of brands, and promoting simple rental payment structures, they soon appeal to busy families and previous company car drivers who’re happy to transact at a distance

 

Franchised Dealership of the Year*

Sponsored by Auto Trader

This category is open to single-site owner operators and to best performing dealerships within a larger group network – both single franchised and multi-franchised showrooms.

 

Independent Dealer of the Year*

Sponsored by Startline Motor Finance

This award is open to any independent dealer that sells used cars and is intended to recognise the broad success across the group from its focus on used cars.

 

Dealer Group of the Year (up to 10 sites)*

Sponsored by Warranty Administration Services

The motor retail industry is made up primarily of smaller, regional groups.  This award category is designed to recognise and honour those companies. Entrants will be able to show how they meet the AM Awards’ original criteria of quality, innovation and service and how they have tracked their performance improvement over the past five years. 

 

Dealer Group of the Year (more than 10 sites)*

Sponsored by carwow

This award recognises the unique complications and complexities that come from co-ordinating a large retail group, one with more than 10 dealerships. Entrants will be able to show how they meet the AM Awards’ original criteria of quality, innovation and service, and how they have tracked their performance improvement over the past five years. 

 

Supplier of the Year

Open to entries from industry suppliers making a significant difference to dealers’ fortunes.

Entries will be reviewed and voted upon by readers and the judging panel.

 

Manufacturer of the Year

Sponsored by Ohme Operations UK 

This award recognises vehicle manufacturers that are developing and delivering the best products and technology consumers could want, both now and in the near future.

Nominated and voted upon by the judging panel.

 

Retailer of the Year 

Sponsored by Indra

The winners from the two Best Dealer Group categories, plus Best Used Car Dealer Group (franchised or independent), come under the scrutiny of our judging panel once more to decide who is the deserving winner of our ultimate business award.

 

Dealer Principal/General Manager of the Year 

Sponsored by Castrol

The winner will be a dealer principal or general manager who has done incredible things with difficult brands or marketplaces by demonstrating excellent leadership skills, drive and innovative thinking that has helped the dealership achieve business objectives. 

 

Business Leader of the Year

Sponsored by Premia Solutions

To recognise strong leadership, vision, visibility and accountability at the highest level.

Nominated and voted on by the judging panel.

 

AM Hall of Fame

Sponsored by GardX Group

We recognise someone who has made an outstanding contribution to the automotive industry during their career.

The recipient is chosen by AM’s editor, Tim Rose, and editor-in-chief Stephen Briers.