AJAC Innovation Awards

The AJAC Innovation Awards spotlight technology advances in the automotive industry that lead to cleaner, safer, more user-friendly vehicles. Each year, an expert panel of AJAC journalists reviews detailed information on nominations drawn from vehicles on sale in Canada and votes for the best new innovations in three categories.

Best Green Innovation highlights developments that lower the environmental impact of cars and trucks.

Best Safety Innovation recognizes ways in which vehicles are protecting occupants, pedestrians and other road users.

Best Technical Innovation rewards technologies that improve the way vehicles interact with their drivers and passengers, from ride and handling to comfort and connectivity.

2026 Best Safety Innovation – Volvo Multi-Adaptive Safety Belt

The winner of AJAC’s Best Safety Innovation award for 2026 is Volvo’s Multi-Adaptive Safety Belt. Volvo has a long track record in advancing protection for humans both inside and outside the car; its Multi-Adaptive Safety Belt is the latest in a string of safety innovations that stretches back decades.

2026 Best Green Innovation – Toyota 6th Generation PHEV Powertrain

The newly developed plug-in hybrid powertrain in the 2026 Toyota RAV4 PHEV is the winner of this year’s AJAC Best Green Innovation award. Innovation comes in many forms – including in repeated cycles of incremental, meaningful improvement. So it is with Toyota’s 6th Generation PHEV Powertrain, which improves further on its previous technology and performance.

2026 Best Technical Innovation – Mercedes-Benz G 580 with EQ “Quad Motor” Technology

AJAC’s 2026 Best Technical Innovation award goes to Mercedes-Benz. This year the judges have recognized the Quad-Motor system in the all-electric G 580 with EQ Technology, which makes this famous off-road vehicle even more capable – and reminds us that we are still only beginning to discover what can be achieved with electric power.

2026 AJAC Innovation Award winners announced by Automobile Journalists Association of Canada

The three winners of the 2026 AJAC Innovation Awards, presented by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC), were announced today during the opening ceremonies of Elevate, the Vancouver International Auto Show.

2025 Best Technical Innovation – Mazda Large Platform MHEV Powertrains

AJAC’s 2025 Best Technical Innovation award goes to the Mazda Large Platform MHEV (mild-hybrid) Powertrains, which underpin the brand’s latest pair of crossover SUVs: CX-70 and CX-90. Mazda’s combination of turbocharged inline-six-cylinder engines, 48-volt mild-hybrid system and newly designed 8-speed transmission boosts efficiency, improves acceleration from rest, sharpens the driving dynamics and enlarges the front crush zone.

2025 Best Green Innovation – Lucid Air Pure Electric Powertrain

The Lucid Air Pure electric powertrain is the winner of this year’s AJAC Best Green Innovation award. Lucid has developed its own powertrain technology to better integrate elements like the motor and battery, creating the most efficient EV on sale in Canada. Efficient powertrains enable lighter vehicles and greater range from a given amount of energy, while still delivering the performance that buyers expect.

2025 Best Safety Innovation – BMW Digital Key Plus

The winner of AJAC’s Best Safety Innovation award for 2025 is BMW Digital Key Plus. Its use of ultra-wideband (UWB) technology offers an innovative way to combat car theft. The two-way communication between the vehicle and the ‘key’ in the phone prevents the ‘relay’ attacks that have become commonplace, whereby a criminal capture signals from keys in a house and rebroadcasts them to steal the car.

2025 AJAC Innovation Award winners announced by Automobile Journalists Association of Canada

VANCOUVER, BC, March 19, 2025 /CNW/ – March 19, 2025 – The three winners of the 2025 AJAC Innovation Awards, presented by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC), were announced today during the opening ceremonies of Elevate, the Vancouver Auto Show. The Lucid Air Pure electric powertrain is the winner of this year’s AJAC Best Green Innovation award. Lucid has developed its own powertrain technology to better integrate elements like the motor and battery, creating the most efficient EV on sale in Canada. Efficient powertrains enable lighter vehicles and greater range from a given amount of energy, while still delivering the performance that buyers expect. The winner of AJAC’s …

2024 Best Safety Innovation – Volvo EX90 Safety Suite

The Volvo EX90 Safety Suite received the award for Best Safety Innovation. Volvo’s long tradition of safety innovation continues in the new EX90 electric SUV, where a high-resolution LiDAR sensor enhances the reliability and performance – including in low light conditions – of the Pilot Assist driver-assistance functions.

2024 Best Green Innovation – BMW Fifth-Generation Electric Drive System

The BMW 5th-Generation Electric Drive System is the winner of this year’s AJAC Best Green Innovation award. On sale in electrified models including the brand-new i5 and 5 Series PHEV, the Gen-5 electric drive system eliminates rare earths from the electric motors and enables many components to be repaired or replaced, reducing service costs.