THE ROAD TO WORLD CAR 2026 and the WORLD CAR FINALS POWERED BY BREMBO concluded today with the live announcement of the winners in six award categories at the New York International Auto Show.
The Firefly is the 2026 World Urban Car.
This is the first World Car Award win for Nio / Firefly.
“This recognition isn’t just about a car, it reflects a shift in how we move through cities. At Firefly, we believe urban mobility should feel lighter, smarter, safer, and more in tune with everyday life. As a compact electric vehicle designed for global cities, we try to be more thoughtful, shaping a more intuitive, electric way to move, so people can move more freely, and glow in their own way,“ said Daniel Jin, NIO Vice President & firefly President.
A jury of 98 distinguished international automotive journalists from 33 countries selected the winning cars by secret ballot based on their evaluation of each eligible vehicle as part of their on-going professional work. Today’s vote results have been tabulated by KPMG.
The Firefly was chosen from an initial list of five contenders from all over the world. A shortlist of three finalists was announced on March 3rd, 2026. The 2026 Top Three in the World were: Baojun Yep Plus / Chevrolet Spark EUV, Firefly, and Hyundai Venue.
Vehicles eligible for World Urban Car must be a maximum of 4.25 meters in overall length, must be approved for operation on public roads, must be produced in volumes of at least 5,000 units/year, and must be “on-sale” in at least two major markets (China, Europe, India, Japan, Korea, Latin America, USA) on at least two separate continents within the period January 1, 2025 and March 30, 2026.
