Chevrolet Spark EUV: 2026 Electric Car of the Year in South America

The Chevrolet Spark EUV has been named the 2026 Electric Car of the Year in South America. The Interamerican Federation of Automotive Journalists (FIPA), which brings together motoring writers from across the Americas, awarded the title.

Journalists from more than 20 countries voted directly for the winner. FIPA judges models in several categories, including passenger cars, SUVs, pickups, hybrids, and EVs. The organization stresses that the award is based on independent editorial criteria, not commercial agreements.

For General Motors, the recognition is significant because the Spark EUV was designed as an affordable urban EV for everyday use, not an expensive image vehicle. GM Colombia noted that the award confirms the model’s strength: it offers a blend of affordability, technology, and relevance to evolving buyer habits.

The Spark EUV is already sold in over eight South American markets. It has been particularly successful in Brazil, where it recently posted its best sales figures and became the best-selling fully electric utility vehicle for two consecutive months.

An interesting detail is the model’s origin. The Spark EUV was developed in China by the SAIC-GM-Wuling joint venture. SGMW supplies complete vehicles and CKD kits to the markets where the model is sold, including assembly in Brazil.

This outcome highlights a new reality in the automotive market: affordable EVs for developing markets are increasingly built on Chinese engineering but sold under global brands. For the Chevrolet Spark EUV, the strategy appears to have worked—it has become more than just another compact EV, emerging as a noteworthy model in the region.