Vauxhall crowned 'manufacturer of the year' at the News UK Motor Awards 2023

Vauxhall won the top award 'Manufacturer of the Year' at the News UK Motor Awards 2023, with the New Corsa being crowned 'Small Car of the Year', the Corsa's third win at these awards. Now coming available as fully electric, the New Corsa represents Vauxhall's commitment to electrify Britain and become an electric-only brand from 2028.

Vauxhall has earned the title of The Sun’s ‘Manufacturer of the Year’ at the News UK Motor Awards 2023. The brand also took home the award ‘Small Car of the Year’ thanks to its Corsa supermini.

Celebrated every year, the News UK Motor Awards commemorate the best new vehicles of the last 12 months, as voted for by The Sun.

Being crowned ‘Manufacturer of the Year’ comes following a successful year for Vauxhall, which contained many innovative and creative steps on the journey towards becoming an electric-only brand from 2028. From 2024, Vauxhall intends to offer an electric model for every car in its range, already offering an electric version of every van in its light commercial vehicle line-up.

Grand Sport Electric, or GSe, was launched at the beginning of the year, expanding the Vauxhall range with new performance versions. 2023 has also seen the launch of the Astra Electric and New Corsa, the UK’s best-selling supermini, and third best-selling car in the UK up until October. On top of this, last month Vauxhall revealed its new Experimental Concept, giving a view into the brand's vision of the future.

Over the last 2 years, Vauxhall has been the UK’s best-selling electric van manufacturer, and they continue to lead the sales charts in 2023. Over a quarter of electric vans sold in the UK year-to-date has been a Vauxhall Vivaro Electric, making it the UK’s best-selling e-LCV. Vauxhall is one of few brands to offer a fully electric variant across its entire LCV line-up.

Rob Gill, Editor for The Sun Motors said: “Vauxhall has been part of the fabric of Britain for 120 years. One hundred and twenty years. And it will be for many years yet thanks to huge investment in its van plants in Luton and Ellesmere Port. Vauxhall should also be applauded for sticking with Corsa and Astra - two models we love and trust - by producing electric versions of them. Smart move.”

As the winner of News UK’s ‘Best Small Car’ award, New Corsa comes with Vauxhall’s Vizor front end across the whole range, as well as several additional styling and technological improvements. As well, fully electric models come available with Vauxhall’s next-generation battery, able to provide it a range of 246 miles (WLTP). Corsa was previously titled The Sun’s ‘Car of the Year’ in 2020 and their ‘Value Car of the Year’ in 2021. 

Rob Gill said: “Corsa punches way ahead of the rest as Britain’s favourite supermini - and for good reason. It’s fun to drive, packed with big-car tech, and has just had a new haircut while keeping a lid on prices. Brand-spanking Corsa petrol for £19k? Yes please. Or there’s a Corsa Electric for drivers ready to make the switch. We’re delighted Vauxhall’s little gem will be with us for years to come.”

Vauxhall's Managing Director, James Taylor, said: “I am delighted to see Vauxhall named Manufacturer of the Year at the News UK Motor Awards. It is a great accomplishment in what has been an important year for the brand. Whilst the Small Car of the Year award for Corsa is a testament to the success of our latest offering of new cars and vans, the recognition from The Sun highlights the progress that Vauxhall is making as a leading automotive manufacturer in the UK.”

Earlier in the year, Vauxhall launched the trailblazing ‘Electric Streets of Britain’ campaign. After discovering exclusive data that revealed more than 70% of UK councils do not currently have a published strategy in place to provide residential on-street charging for EVs, Vauxhall partnered with three of the leading charging operators to help councils understand the scale the issues faced by current on-street charging, and the solutions available.

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