The Automotive Researchers' and Journalists' Conference of Japan, also known as (RJC), is a non-profit organization established in 1990, consisting of Japan-based automotive critics and journalists. The RJC holds a yearly conference, where they bestow awards regarding: *Person of the Year (related to the automotive world) *Technology of the Year * Car of the Year (Japanese-made) *Import Car of the Year (since 2001) RJC Car of the Year is one of the prominent Japanese automobile awards, the other being Japan Car of the Year.

Winners

{, class="wikitable" , - ! style="width:6em" , Year ! style="width:12em" , Person of the Year ! style="width:12em" , Technology of the Year ! style="width:12em" , Car of the Year ! style="width:12em" , Import Car of the Year ! style="width:12em" , Special Award , - , align="center" , 2023 , align="center" , , align="center" ,

Nissan is a Japanese multinational Automotive industry, automobile manufacturer headquartered in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan. The company sells its vehicles under the ''Nissan'' and ''Infiniti'' brands, and formerly the ''Datsun'' brand, with in-house ...

and

Mitsubishi The is a group of autonomous Japanese multinational companies in a variety of industries. Founded by Yatarō Iwasaki in 1870, the Mitsubishi Group traces its origins to the Mitsubishi zaibatsu, a unified company that existed from 1870 to 194 ...

electrification technology for battery electric

kei car Kei car is the smallest category of Japanese expressway-legal motor vehicles. The term ''kei'' is a shortening of , (kanji: ), which translates to English as "light vehicle" (). With restricted dimensions and engine specifications, owners ...

(Sakura / eK X EV) , align="center" , Nissan Sakura / Mitsubishi eK X EV , align="center" , BMW 2 Series Active Tourer , align="center" , , - , align="center" , 2022 , align="center" , , align="center" ,

plug-in hybrid system with S-AWC ( Eclipse Cross PHEV) , align="center" , Nissan Note / Note Aura , align="center" , BMW 4 Series , align="center" , , - , align="center" , 2021 , align="center" , , align="center" ,

e-Power ( Kicks) , align="center" , Toyota Yaris / Yaris Cross , align="center" , BMW 2 Series Gran Coupé , align="center" , , - , align="center" , 2020 , align="center" , , align="center" ,

ProPilot 2.0 (

Skyline A skyline is the wikt:outline, outline or shape viewed near the horizon. It can be created by a city's overall structure, or by human intervention in a rural area, rural setting, or in nature that is formed where the sky meets buildings or the ...

) , align="center" , Nissan Dayz / Mitsubishi eK Wagon / eK X , align="center" , BMW 3 Series , align="center" ,

CHAdeMO CHAdeMO is a electric vehicle charging, fast-charging system for battery electric vehicles, developed in 2010 by the CHAdeMO Association, formed by the Tokyo Electric Power Company and five major Japanese automakers. The name is an abbreviation o ...

, - , align="center" , 2019 , align="center" , , align="center" ,

e-Power ( Serena) , align="center" , Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross , align="center" , BMW X2 , align="center" , Honda N-Van , - , align="center" , 2018 , align="center" , 光岡進 (Susumu Mitsuoka, Chairman, Mitsuoka) , align="center" ,

Honda commonly known as just Honda, is a Japanese multinational corporation, multinational Conglomerate (company), conglomerate automotive manufacturer headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. Founded in October 1946 by Soichiro Honda, Honda has bee ...

weight reduction technology ( N-Box) , align="center" , Suzuki Swift , align="center" , Volvo V90 , align="center" , Mazda Roadster restoration service / Classic

Volvo The Volvo Group (; legally Aktiebolaget Volvo, shortened to AB Volvo, stylized as VOLVO) is a Swedish multinational manufacturing corporation headquartered in Gothenburg. While its core activity is the production, distribution and sale of truck ...

Refresh Project , - , align="center" , 2017 , align="center" , , align="center" ,

ProPilot (Serena) , align="center" , Nissan Serena , align="center" , Volvo XC90 , align="center" , , - , align="center" , 2016 , align="center" , , align="center" ,

Toyota is a Japanese Multinational corporation, multinational Automotive industry, automotive manufacturer headquartered in Toyota City, Aichi, Japan. It was founded by Kiichiro Toyoda and incorporated on August 28, 1937. Toyota is the List of manuf ...

Fuel Cell System (TFCS) ( Mirai) , align="center" , Suzuki Alto / Alto Lapin , align="center" , Mini Clubman , align="center" , , - , align="center" , 2015 , align="center" , , align="center" ,

Direct Adaptive Steering (

) , align="center" , Suzuki Hustler , align="center" , Mercedes-Benz C-Class , align="center" ,

JAMA ''JAMA'' (''The Journal of the American Medical Association'') is a peer-reviewed medical journal published 48 times a year by the American Medical Association. It publishes original research, reviews, and editorials covering all aspects of b ...

Kei car Kei car is the smallest category of Japanese expressway-legal motor vehicles. The term ''kei'' is a shortening of , (kanji: ), which translates to English as "light vehicle" (). With restricted dimensions and engine specifications, owners ...

, - , align="center" , 2014 , align="center" , 菅原義正 (Yoshimasa Sugawara, Rally Driver) , align="center" ,

plug-in hybrid system ( Outlander PHEV) , align="center" , Mazda Atenza , align="center" , Volvo V40 , align="center" , , - , align="center" , 2013 , align="center" , , align="center" ,

Suzuki is a Japanese multinational mobility manufacturer headquartered in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, Shizuoka. It manufactures automobiles, motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), outboard motor, outboard marine engines, wheelchairs and a va ...

Green Technology ( Wagon R) , align="center" , Nissan Note , align="center" , BMW 3 Series / Volkswagen Up! , align="center" , Mitsubishi Fuso Duonic ( Canter Eco Hybrid) , - , align="center" , 2012 , align="center" , , align="center" ,

Mazda is a Japanese Multinational corporation, multinational automotive manufacturer headquartered in Fuchū, Hiroshima (town), Fuchū, Hiroshima Prefecture, Hiroshima, Japan. The company was founded on January 30, 1920, as Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd. ...

SkyActiv-G 1.3 liter engine ( Demio) , align="center" , Nissan Leaf , align="center" , Volvo S60 / V60 , align="center" , , - , align="center" , 2011 , align="center" , , align="center" , Subaru EyeSight (

Legacy Legacy or Legacies may refer to: Arts and entertainment Comics * " Batman: Legacy", a 1996 Batman storyline * '' DC Universe: Legacies'', a comic book series from DC Comics * ''Legacy'', a 1999 quarterly series from Antarctic Press * ''Legacy ...

) , align="center" , Suzuki Swift , align="center" , Volkswagen Polo , align="center" , , - , align="center" , 2010 , align="center" , , align="center" ,

i-Stop ( Axela) , align="center" , Honda Insight , align="center" , Audi Q5 , align="center" , , - , align="center" , 2009 , align="center" , , align="center" ,

Volkswagen Volkswagen (VW; )English: , . is a German automotive industry, automobile manufacturer based in Wolfsburg, Lower Saxony, Germany. Established in 1937 by German Labour Front, The German Labour Front, it was revitalized into the global brand it ...

1.4 liter TSI engine with 7-speed DSG (

Golf Golf is a club-and-ball sport in which players use various Golf club, clubs to hit a Golf ball, ball into a series of holes on a golf course, course in as few strokes as possible. Golf, unlike most ball games, cannot and does not use a standa ...

) , align="center" , Suzuki Wagon R , align="center" ,

Audi A4 The Audi A4 is a line of luxury compact executive cars produced from 1994 to 2025 by the German car manufacturer Audi, a subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group. The A4 has been built in five generations and is based on the Volkswagen Group B platfor ...

, align="center" , Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X (Best High-Performance & Sports Car) , - , align="center" , 2008 , align="center" , , align="center" ,

TSI engine ( Golf Variant) , align="center" , Mazda Demio , align="center" , Peugeot 207 , align="center" , Mazda CX-7 (Best SUV) , - , align="center" , 2007 , align="center" , 津田紘 (Hiroshi Tsuda, President,

) , align="center" ,

Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-Benz (), commonly referred to simply as Mercedes and occasionally as Benz, is a German automotive brand that was founded in 1926. Mercedes-Benz AG (a subsidiary of the Mercedes-Benz Group, established in 2019) is based in Stuttgart, ...

3.0 liter V6 common rail diesel

turbo In an internal combustion engine, a turbocharger (also known as a turbo or a turbosupercharger) is a forced induction device that is powered by the flow of exhaust gases. It uses this energy to compress the intake air, forcing more air into the ...

engine , align="center" , Mitsubishi i , align="center" , Mercedes-Benz E 320 CDI , align="center" , Daihatsu Move (Best Kei Car) , - , align="center" , 2006 , align="center" , 井巻久一 (Hisakazu Imaki, President,

) , align="center" ,

3-stage i-VTEC + IMA ( Civic Hybrid) , align="center" , Suzuki Swift , align="center" , Citroën C4 , align="center" , , - , align="center" , 2005 , align="center" , , align="center" ,

SH-AWD (

Legend A legend is a genre of folklore that consists of a narrative featuring human actions, believed or perceived to have taken place in human history. Narratives in this genre may demonstrate human values, and possess certain qualities that give the ...

) , align="center" , Nissan Fuga , align="center" , Audi A6 , align="center" , Subaru R2 (Best Kei Car) , - , align="center" , 2004 , align="center" ,

Henry Ford Henry Ford (July 30, 1863 – April 7, 1947) was an American Technological and industrial history of the United States, industrialist and business magnate. As the founder of the Ford Motor Company, he is credited as a pioneer in making automob ...

, align="center" , Mazda Renesis engine (RX-8) , align="center" ,

Mazda RX-8 The Mazda RX-8 is a sports car manufactured by Japanese automobile manufacturer Mazda between 2003 and 2012. It was first shown in 2001 at the North American International Auto Show#2001, North American International Auto Show. It is the direct s ...

, align="center" , Audi A3 , align="center" , Volkswagen Touareg (Best SUV) , - , align="center" , 2003 , align="center" , , align="center" ,

BMW Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, trading as BMW Group (commonly abbreviated to BMW (), sometimes anglicised as Bavarian Motor Works), is a German multinational manufacturer of vehicles and motorcycles headquartered in Munich, Bavaria, Germany. Th ...

Valvetronic , align="center" , Mazda Atenza , align="center" , Citroën C3 , align="center" ,

Subaru Forester The is a compact crossover SUV that has been manufactured by Subaru since 1997. The first generation was built on the platform of the Impreza in the style of a taller station wagon, a style that continued to the second generation, while the ...

, - , align="center" , 2002 , align="center" , 吉野浩行 (Hiroyuki Yoshino, President,

) , align="center" ,

THS-C + E-Four hybrid ( Estima Hybrid) , align="center" , Honda Fit , align="center" ,

, align="center" ,

Mazda RX-7 The Mazda RX-7 is a front mid engine, Rear-wheel drive, rear-wheel-drive, rotary engine-powered sports car, manufactured and marketed by Mazda from 1978 through 2002 across three generations, all of which incorporated the use of a compact, light ...

R-Spec (Advanced Design) , - , align="center" , 2001 , align="center" , 石原慎太郎 ( Shintarō Ishihara, Governor of

Tokyo Tokyo, officially the Tokyo Metropolis, is the capital of Japan, capital and List of cities in Japan, most populous city in Japan. With a population of over 14 million in the city proper in 2023, it is List of largest cities, one of the most ...

) , align="center" , Nissan NEO QG18DE engine ( Bluebird Sylphy) , align="center" , Honda Civic / Civic Ferio , align="center" , Volkswagen Golf , align="center" ,

Cadillac Cadillac Motor Car Division, or simply Cadillac (), is the luxury vehicle division (business), division of the American automobile manufacturer General Motors (GM). Its major markets are the United States, Canada and China; Cadillac models are ...

Night Vision ( DeVille DHS, Technology)
Mazda MPV (Best Minivan) , - , align="center" , 2000 , align="center" , 新宮威一 (Iichi Shingu, President,

Daihatsu is a Japanese automobile manufacturer headquartered in Ikeda, Osaka Prefecture, Japan. One of the oldest surviving Japanese internal combustion engine manufacturers, the company was known for building three-wheeled vehicles and off-road vehicle ...

) , align="center" ,

Extroid CVT (Cedric / Gloria) , align="center" , Nissan Cedric / Gloria , align="center" , Peugeot 206 , align="center" , , - , align="center" , 1999 , align="center" , 海崎洋一郎 (Yoichiro Kaizaki, President, Bridgestone) , align="center" ,

Isuzu , commonly known as Isuzu (, ), is a Japanese multinational automobile manufacturer headquartered in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture. Its principal activity is the production, marketing and sale of Isuzu commercial vehicles and diesel engines ...

common rail type direct injection

diesel engine The diesel engine, named after the German engineer Rudolf Diesel, is an internal combustion engine in which Combustion, ignition of diesel fuel is caused by the elevated temperature of the air in the cylinder due to Mechanics, mechanical Compr ...

( Bighorn) , align="center" , Subaru Legacy / Legacy Lancaster (Registered car)
Subaru Pleo (Kei car) , align="center" , BMW 3 Series , align="center" , , - , align="center" , 1998 , align="center" , , align="center" , Toyota Hybrid System (THS) (Prius) , align="center" ,

Toyota Prius The is a Compact car, compact/small family car, small family liftback (supermini/subcompact sedan (car), sedan until 2003) produced by Toyota. The Prius has a Hybrid vehicle drivetrain, hybrid drivetrain, combined with an internal combustion ...

, align="center" ,

Volkswagen Passat The Volkswagen Passat is a nameplate of D-segment, large family cars (D-segment) manufactured and marketed by the German automobile manufacturer Volkswagen since 1973 and also marketed variously as the Dasher, Santana, Quantum, Magotan, Corsar ...

, align="center" , , - , align="center" , 1997 , align="center" , 川本信彦 ( Nobuhiko Kawamoto, President,

) , align="center" ,

GDI GDI may refer to: Science and technology * Gasoline direct injection, a type of fuel injection * Graphics Device Interface, a component of Microsoft Windows * Guanosine nucleotide dissociation inhibitor, a protein Organisations * Gabriel Dumont I ...

engine ( Galant / Legnum) , align="center" , Mazda Demio / Ford Festiva Mini Wagon , align="center" , Volkswagen Polo , align="center" , , - , align="center" , 1996 , align="center" , 梁瀨次郎 (Jiro Yanase, CEO, Yanase) , align="center" ,

VSC (Crown Royal / Crown Majesta) , align="center" , Toyota Crown Royal / Crown Majesta , align="center" , Mercedes-Benz E-Class , align="center" , , - , align="center" , 1995 , align="center" , 豐田英二 ( Eiji Toyoda, Chairman,

) , align="center" ,

INVECS-II + Sport Mode AT ( FTO) , align="center" , Honda Odyssey , align="center" ,

Opel Omega The Opel Omega is an executive car engineered and manufactured by German automaker Opel between 1986 and 2003. The first generation, the Omega A (1986–1994), superseded the Opel Rekord. It was voted European Car of the Year for 1987, and was ...

, align="center" , , - , align="center" , 1994 , align="center" , 鈴木修 (Osamu Suzuki, President,

) , align="center" ,

Miller cycle engine ( Eunos 800) , align="center" , Suzuki Wagon R , align="center" , Saab 900 , align="center" , , - , align="center" , 1993 , align="center" , 鈴木元雄 (Motoo Suzuki, President,

) , align="center" ,

INVECS ( Galant / Eterna) , align="center" , Nissan March , align="center" , Volvo 850 , align="center" , , - , align="center" , 1992 , align="center" , 山本健一 (Kenichi Yamamoto, President,

) , align="center" ,

VTEC engine , align="center" ,

, align="center" , BMW 3 Series , align="center" , 本田宗一郎 ( Soichiro Honda, Supreme Advisor,

) , -

External links

Official website
Japanese science and technology awards Motor vehicle awards

Winners

See also

External links