We’re on the International Pick-up Award jury!

We’re ending 2022 on a very high note indeed. We are thrilled to announce that FOCUS will have a seat on the International Pick-up Award jury! This isn’t just a first for FOCUS, it’s a first for South Africa!

As regular readers know, FOCUS was appointed to the International Truck of the Year jury and the jury for the Truck Innovation Award a number of years ago. We’re also on the jury of the International Intralogistics and Forklift Truck of the Year.

Now (cue the trumpets), we have been invited onto the International Pick-up Award jury – and I’m utterly delighted at this development. The International Pick-up Award is just as important as the International Truck of the Year but, instead of focusing on trucks, the Pick-up Award is there to celebrate excellence in light commercial vehicles – bakkies, specifically.

Jarlath Sweeney, chairman and founder of the International Pick-up Award, explains that it is the world’s leading accolade for producers of one-tonne pick-ups.

“Every other year since 2009, the International Pick-up Award has been presented to the most efficient one-tonne pick-up truck in business today. The pick-ups in contention for the main prize are judged on their commercial merits, plus their on- and off-road capabilities. Former winners of this prestigious biennial title include the Ford Ranger, Nissan Navara, Toyota Hilux, and Volkswagen Amarok, with the Ranger and Amarok winning on two occasions over the years,” reveals Sweeney.

The Toyota Hilux is the current holder of this sought-after title; it was announced as the winner of the sixth International Pick-up Award 2022/2023 during the Solutrans 2021 exhibition in Lyon, France.

It’s an accolade that the bakkie manufacturers do not take lightly, as Didier Gambart, vice president of Toyota Motor Europe sales, marketing and customer experience, confirms. “With more than 50 years of heritage, the Hilux has always stood for outstanding Quality, Durability, and Reliability (QDR), as well as very capable off-road performance. Now, with the latest Hilux, we have expanded the engine line-up with a new 2.8-litre diesel that offers even more refinement and power, allowing us to meet the needs of customers wanting not only a workhorse, but also a leisure vehicle. So, for us, this award is a recognition of all the inherent qualities of Hilux, with even more capabilities,” he tells FOCUS.

Our appointment to the jury isn’t just a seriously big deal for FOCUS. It’s a real shot in the arm for South Africa too. Never before has South Africa – or, indeed, any other African country – been represented on the jury. We’re extremely grateful for the opportunity to play this role.

There were previously 19 editors and journalists on the jury, representing all the leading European markets. With the addition of South Africa, 20 countries are now represented on the expert panel.

I think it’s great that South Africa now has a voice when it comes to selecting the best bakkie in the world. It’s also appropriate: we are besotted with bakkies and they sell faster than hot cross buns at Easter. South Africa is, of course, also a super important production base for bakkie manufacturing. Just recently Ford Motor Company announced a US$1.05 billion investment in its South African manufacturing operations. This facilitated the production of the next-generation Ranger, which commenced last month.

Sweeney is equally pleased with South Africa’s appointment to the jury. “Every two years, the jury members meet somewhere in the world to evaluate contenders for the award. Next year, we will meet in Athens, Greece, from 16 to 19 October. Over this period, we will put the world’s finest pick-ups through their paces. We are delighted that Charleen will join this group test exercise. And who knows? Maybe, at some time in the future, we will do our testing in South Africa!” he enthuses.