LOS ANGELES, CA - November 27, 2018 – (HISPANICIZE WIRE) - The 9^th annual Hispanic Motor Press Awards recognizes the ten best new vehicles of 2019 for the Hispanic consumer. The awards are organized by the Hispanic Motor Press Foundation, a non-profit 501 (c)3 educational organization that helps educate Hispanics on finding the best value vehicles in the market through grassroots efforts and events.

According to data from Polk, Hispanics are projected to spend $18 billion on new vehicles in 2019. Hispanic auto buyers will account for 25 percent of the growth in new-vehicle sales. The impact of Latinos continues to increase exponentially in the market, influencing auto companies to consider and incorporate the needs and wants of the largest minority group in the country.

"California is known for setting the trends in the automotive industry and with the largest Hispanic population in the U.S, it is the place to find out what we like," said Ricardo Rodriguez-Long, President of the Hispanic Motor Press Foundation.

The jury panel for the 2019 awards is comprised of Hispanic automotive journalists, bloggers, and industry influencers selected by the organization’s advisory board. Twenty individuals and one jury director form the panel, evaluate the vehicles from their perspective keeping the Hispanic audience’s preferences foremost in their minds. An educated consumer is a satisfied consumer and the awards provide Hispanic consumers with outstanding choices based on the judging panels own experiences with the vehicles.

Every year there are over 250 new vehicle models to choose from. Selecting the ten best is a big responsibility for the jurors and they volunteer their time to test and compare the final selections. Auto manufacturers voluntarily submit their entries and the panel evaluates the vehicles on their features including pricing, safety, styling, comfort, technology, environmental impact, and overall value. The final ten vehicles are the best in their class and provide proven options as the best overall selection for the needs and desires of Hispanic families.

“We are proud and honored that the Hispanic Motor Press Awards are widely recognized by the automobile industry with multiple brands using the awards on their advertising and marketing campaigns,” adds Rodriguez-Long. “Our independence from specific media outlets and voluntary submissions by auto manufactures give our jury panel the ability to choose vehicles without any compromise or pressure, leveling the field for all participants”.

The ten vehicle winners represent the most significant new automobiles in the market and the best value in their class as it relates to the Hispanic family. The 2019 winners are:

Sub-compact car:       KIA Rio5

Compact car:               VW Golf

Sedan car:                  Nissan Altima

Deluxe car:                  Genesis G70

Minivan:                       Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid

Crossover:                  Hyundai Kona

SUV:                            Lincoln Nautilus

Sports car:                  Ford Mustang

Adventure 4x4:           Jeep Wrangler

Pick-up Truck:             Ram 1500

Each vehicle’s virtues were assessed as they related to the mainstream Hispanic family in the U.S. The awards’ vetting process includes test drives, mass market availability, and affordability data valuations. The committee took into account overall design, comfort, safety, performance, functionality, accessory content, driver satisfaction, consumer final cost, and overall value package to select the vehicles that offer the best value for the Hispanic consumer.

The twenty-one Hispanic Motor Press Awards 2019 panelists are:

German Angel – (Enfoque Social – Long Beach, CA) https://www.enfoquesocial.org

Long Beach’s Social Public TV personality for over a decade. The charismatic Mr. Angel produces the TV show ENFOQUE SOCIAL, a multicultural program that reflects the needs and pulse of the city.

Manuel Carrillo III- (The Roadshow by CNET – Los Angeles, CA) www.cnet.com/roadshow

A Porsche 911 S brought Mr. Carrillo III home from the hospital after he was born, so it’s no surprise his lifelong trajectory has centered on cars, leading him to where he is now, Automotive Content Editor at CNET.

Davina Ferreira – (Alegria Magazine - Los Angeles, CA) http://alegriamagazine.com

Publisher of Alegria Magazine, covering the Latin American Arts, Fashion & Culture in California.

Luis Fernandez – (El Garage TV – Miami, FL) http://elgarage.com

Award winning TV documentary producer generating TV content for the U.S, European and Latin American markets.

Jose “Pepe” Forte – (El ATICO DE PEPE – Miami, FL) http://www.ifriedegg.com

Anchor and producer of the radio shows El Atico de Pepe (WAQI 710) and Automania (WQBA 1140). A multi-talented personality, Pepe discusses politics, music, design, cameras, and cars to the Hispanic audience with humor and charm.

Jaime Florez – (Ruedas ESPN - Miami, FL) http://espndeportes.radio.net

Host and producer of the automotive radio show Ruedas ESPN, broadcast through the ESPN Deportes radio network. He is also the director for PREMSA Inc., a leading marketing firm creating multicultural campaigns, and is past president of Southern Automotive Media Assoc. (SAMA).

Juan Garcia – (Digital Trends en Español – Dallas, TX) https://es.digitaltrends.com  Editor in Chief of Digital Trends en Español, one of the leading consumer technology publishers in the United States, and recognized by Associated Press for his editorial work.

Jeffrey Gomez – (The Snob Magazine – Los Angeles, CA) https://thesnobmag.com

An expert on the exclusive nature of all things luxury, from LA to the world, his publication is a tribute to the luxury lifestyle.

Silvia Ichar – (Para Todos Magazine – Los Angeles, CA) http://paratodos.com

Publisher and editor of Para Todos Magazine, she has received several accolades from the U.S. Small Business Administration, Hispanic PR Assoc., and Latina Business Women Assoc.

Enrique Kogan – (PurosAutos, Miami, FL) http://www.purosautos.com

One of the pioneers of automotive journalism in Spanish in the U.S., Mr. Kogan’s knowledge of the auto industry is vast and his car review features are found within the pages of Puros Autos, Forbes, Huffington Post, and several Spanish-language newspapers across the country.

David Leon – (La Prensa Colombiana – Los Angeles, CA) http://laprensacolombiana.com  Editor and publisher of the largest newspaper connecting Colombians in the U.S. with news and stories of Colombia.

Alejandro Maciel – (Hoy Newspaper – Los Angeles, CA) https://www.hoylosangeles.com Editorial director for Hoy Los Angeles/L.A. Times, Mr. Maciel has achieved a broad-ranging career in Hispanic media. He was previously the editor of People en español and La Prensa in New York.

Valerie Menard - (Latino Traffic Report – Austin, TX) http://www.latinotrafficreport.com

A freelance writer and editor, her publishing’s include political, automotive and entertainment reporting which has been featured in Decisive Latino, Latina Style, Latino Leaders, Latina, Poder Hispanic, Examiner.com, and Latino Magazine. She’s the published author of two books—The Latino Holiday Book and Latinas in Love.

Sandra Muñoz – (Latinaology – Phoenix, AZ) https://www.latinaology.com  Sandra Munoz is the creator of Latinaology.com, an inspired lifestyle and automotive blog with Latina flair, and the first and only Hispanic automotive journalist in Arizona. Her weekly column is published in Prensa Hispana, Arizona’s top Spanish language newspaper.

Maria Ravani – (Sobre Rodas Magazine – Miami, FL) http://sobrerodasusa.com  President of Genius Communications Group and for the past 16 years, editor for Sobre Rodas Magazine, published in Portuguese. Sobre Rodas is a monthly publication dedicated to the auto industry, also covering tourism, motorcycles, and aviation; connecting a vast and growing Brazilian community in the US.

Roger Rivero – (Automotriz TV – Portland, OR) https://www.youtube.com/user/AutomotrizTV  A car enthusiast since childhood, Mr. Rivero writes and produce’s automotive editorial content for a number of outlets across the U.S. He is member of the North West Automotive Press Association (NWAPA) and National Association of Hispanic Journalists.

Ricardo Rodriguez-Long – (Garage Latino – Los Angeles, CA) http://garagelatino.com

Content producer for TV, film, radio, he has been awarded by the Motorcycle Industry Council and Truck Writers NA (TWNA) for his contributions to the Hispanic consumer. Mr. Rodriguez-Long is a member of Motor Press Guild (MPG) and National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ).

Hector Russo - (Geek’s Room - Fort Worth, TX) https://geeksroom.com

Editor and founder of one of the most popular new tech blogs in the world, his reviews include hardware, software, gadgets, and mobile tech.

Aaron Sanchez – (ABCRadio – Inland Empire, CA) www.kmet1490am.com/morningshow

His shows feature social and community news for the predominantly Hispanic population of the Inland Empire in Southern California

Gil Silva- (Mitchell Books – San Diego, CA) https://www.mitchell.com

Part of the Mitchell group for over a decade, he filters through sales, repairs, and maintenance data to create content for the famous Mitchell collision manuals. His direct OEM contact allows him to understand the quality and methods of assembly and repair. 

Fredy Wiles - (Car Power 360- Miami, FL) https://www.youtube.com/user/Carpower360

Social media and YouTube content creator that features all things automotive.

About HISPANIC MOTOR PRESS AWARDS
The Hispanic Motor Press Awards is the only independent Hispanic awards presented in the country for the Hispanic community to enhance their vehicle experience by evaluating the various options available in the market. The jury panel is comprised of national Hispanic journalists, content creators, and influencers who assess the vehicles while considering key purchase drivers for Hispanic families in quality, reliability, style, safety, and value.

About HISPANIC MOTOR PRESS FOUNDATION
The Hispanic Motor Press Foundation is a non-profit foundation 501(c)3. The objective of the organization is to educate and help the Hispanic consumer to move towards mobility that is clean, affordable, and capable of reducing greenhouse emissions and improve our air quality. Our educational programs and content help Hispanic consumers understand the long-term benefits of clean transportation. We provide objective and practical information to the Hispanic community so that they can select which ‘clean’ vehicle would fit best for their needs. Our efforts include all sectors of transportation (commercial vehicles, cars, motorcycles). We work with industry leaders and regulators to share programs that improve motor vehicle technology and encourage technology innovation.

About Los Angeles Auto Show and AutoMobility LA
Founded in 1907, the Los Angeles Auto Show (LA Auto Show®) is the first major North American auto show of the season each year.  In 2016, the show’s Press & Trade Days merged with the Connected Car Expo (CCE) to become AutoMobility LATM, the industry’s first trade show converging the technology and automotive sectors to launch new products and technologies and to discuss the most pressing issues surrounding the future of transportation and mobility. AutoMobility LA 2018 will take place at the Los Angeles Convention Center Nov. 26-29, with manufacturer vehicle debuts intermixed. LA Auto Show 2018 will be open to the public Nov. 30-Dec. 9. AutoMobility LA is where the new auto industry gets business done, unveils groundbreaking new products and makes strategic announcements in front of media and industry professionals from around the globe. LA Auto Show is endorsed by the Greater L.A. New Car Dealer Association and is operated by ANSA Productions. To receive the latest show news and information, follow the LA Auto Show on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram and sign up for alerts at http://www.laautoshow.com.

For more information about AutoMobility LA, please visit http://www.automobilityla.com/ and follow AutoMobility LA on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram. Listen to past panels, interviews, and keynotes on AutoMobility LA’s new podcast at http://automobilityla.com/podcast/.

For information on previous Award Winners visit www.hispanicmotorpress.org

For images of winners contact:info@hispanicmotorpress.org