Updated 11 February 2026 at 12:33 IST
Hyundai Venue, TVS Ntorq 150 Top ACKO Drive TOTMs 2026 Auto Awards
The 4th edition of the Acko Drive Awards aka TOTMs (The One That Matters), considered India's most credible automotive awards, concluded in Chennai on December 19–20, recognising vehicles, manufacturers and individuals across key segments. Hyundai Venue and TVS Ntorq 150 were named Car and Bike of the Year, respectively, while BMW iX1 and Ducati Panigale V4 secured premium category honours. The awards are evaluated through a research-led process with Grant Thornton Bharat as knowledge partner.
- Republic Business
- 2 min read
The fourth edition of the Acko Drive Awards also known as TOTMs (The One That Matters), considered India's most credible automotive awards, concluded in Chennai on December 19–20, recognising vehicles, manufacturers and individuals across key segments in India.
At the 2026 awards, the Hyundai Venue was named ACKO Drive Car of the Year, while the TVS Ntorq 150 won Bike of the Year. In the premium categories, BMW iX1 secured Premium Car of the Year, and Ducati Panigale V4 was awarded Premium Bike of the Year. Meanwhile, Tarun Garg, Managing Director and CEO of Hyundai Motor India, was named the ACKO Drive Person of the Year 2026.
Viewers' Choice
The Viewers’ Choice Awards, based on consumer voting, went to Mahindra BE 6 in the car category and Royal Enfield Hunter 350 in the bike segment.
Manufacturing Pioneers and Hall of Fame Inductees
Several companies were inducted into the TOTM Hall of Fame as Manufacturing Pioneers, including Ashok Leyland, BMW Group India, Hyundai Motor India, Rane Group, Royal Enfield, and TVS Motor Company, in recognition of their contribution to Indian automobile manufacturing. They were also chosen as part of their Chennai connection.
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Auto industry veteran Dr V Sumantran was inducted into the TOTM Hall of Fame: Leader, Engineer, Pioneer, acknowledging his role in shaping India’s automotive ecosystem.
Evaluation Process and Jury
The awards are evaluated through a structured framework with Grant Thornton Bharat acting as the knowledge partner, overseeing jury scoring and aggregation. Vehicles shortlisted for the awards undergo two days of testing at the Buddh International Circuit under comparable conditions, making it one of the most rigorous selection process.
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The TOTMs are now ranked 8th in Asia & Africa for reach and impact among automotive awards, as per Global Automotive Awards overview report published annually by AITASTIC - a German-American research and consulting firm. This places India firmly on the global automotive map.
The jury comprised automotive experts, journalists, and industry professionals from India and abroad.
The two-day event also featured a discussion on vehicle safety and future mobility with Dr V Sumantran and Shailesh Chandra, MD & CEO, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles.
Published By : Shourya Jha
Published On: 6 February 2026 at 16:36 IST