Three in a row for Volkswagen as Thatcham names most secure cars
Volkswagen has claimed the award for selling the most-secure cars for the third year in a row, having won not only a number of category titles, but also the top accolade for the best car manufacturer at the British Insurance Vehicle Security Awards (BIVSA), presented by Thatcham, the Motor Insurance Repair Research Centre, in Berkshire.
The Volkswagen Sharan was the winner of the Large MPV class; the Beetle, which was launched in the UK in January this year, triumphed in the Small Family Car category; while the Phaeton took the title of best Luxury Car for the fifth time since the awards were introduced nine years ago. Volkswagen’s Commercial Vehicles also fared well, with the Caddy winning the Light Van category and the recently-launched Amarok being named the most secure Pick-up LCV – both for the second consecutive year.
Volkswagen UK was also crowned overall Manufacturer of the Year in the car section for the third year running. This award is given to the manufacturer with the most models, and so the widest market coverage, where every variant of each model meets the awards selection criteria. Vehicles were judged on a number of criteria identified by the creators of the New Vehicle Security Ratings (NVSR) scheme. Those that had a maximum five stars for ‘theft from’, had double locking, and an ‘E’ insurance suffix (indicating they had a feature that exceeds the required standard) were shortlisted for final evaluation and ranking.
As in previous years, the purpose of the awards is to recognise the efforts of those manufacturers who have made the most secure vehicles, and in so doing raise awareness of what is best in vehicle security. These coveted awards were developed by the co-founders of the New Vehicle Security Ratings (NVSR) scheme and are supported by all Thatcham insurer members, the Home Office, the Department for Transport and other stakeholders working to improve vehicle security.
Commenting on the awards, Peter Shaw, Chief Executive at Thatcham said: ‘Volkswagen has always fared well at these awards and this year’s results are a tribute to its tenacity in devising security solutions to design out crime and make its vehicles more secure. The new Beetle coming straight in as a category winner proves that vehicles can be both stylish and secure in the fiercely competitive ‘Small Family Car’ segment. An exceptional achievement: clearly showing a manufacturer at the top of its game.’
Franco Iannotta, Insurance Ratings and Vehicle Security Manager for the Volkswagen Group UK said: ‘I’m delighted that the results of this year’s security awards are so positive for the Volkswagen Group. Security is important for our customers and so it’s important for us. That’s why we strive, along with our colleagues at the factories, to enhance our products and ensure they provide the highest levels of safety and security. To win the manufacturer award for the third year running shows that our efforts are paying off. And although this is the last BIVSA of this kind, we’ll continue to work in this area for many years to come.’
