OREANDA-NEWS.  June 02, 2014. GAZelle NEXT is recognized the winner of "TOP-5 AUTO" National Automotive Experts Award in Light Commercial Vehicle/Pickup category. GAZelle NEXT has become the first and the only existing Russian vehicle to win this prestigious contest.

At the first stage of the contest the expert jury evaluated all models appearing at the Russian market in 2013 and selected the most remarkable ones. At the second stage the jury selected the best of the best, first of all based on the vehicle performance and price ratio.

"TOP-5 AUTO" National Automotive Experts Award was established in 2012 by the National Academy of Automotive Business. The purpose of the award is identification of the best vehicle of the year in five main categories. The expert jury of the contest includes 30 respected Russian automotive journalists. Vote counting and certification of the jury members’ ballots is carried out by specialists of KPMG, i.e. one of the leading global audit companies.

The President of GAZ Group Vadim Sorokin: "Quick update of the product line is the key objective of GAZ Group today. Only last year we launched production of three new models of NEXT series, i.e. LDT, crew cab and minibus. Now we are actively working on launching of several new-generation models of medium-duty trucks. Our primary objective for development of new vehicles is to combine a perfect functionality, reliability, high level of comfort and safety, and economic efficiency required for a commercial vehicle. Decision of the respected expert jury of "TOP-5 AUTO" award is recognition of our work and acknowledgement of the fact that we are going the right way.