Volkswagen’s all-electric crossover managed to beat out intense competition from the two other finalists from Japan in the form of the Honda e and the Toyota Yaris to win the award.

Vehicles eligible for the World Car of the Year award must be produced in volumes of at least 10,000 units per year, must be priced below the luxury-car level in their primary markets, and must be “on-sale” in at least two major markets, on at least two separate continents, between May 1, 2020 and May 1, 2021.

The ID.4’s win in 2021 marks the fifth World Car of the Year win for Volkswagen with previous winners being the Volkswagen Golf (2013, 2009), Volkswagen UP! (2012), and Volkswagen Polo (2010).

The 2021 World Luxury Car of the Year went to the Mercedes-Benz S-Class which beat out the Polestar 2 and the Land Rover Defender; the 2021 World Urban Car of the Year went to the Honda e, beating the Honda Jazz/Fit and Toyota Yaris; and finally, the 2021 World Performance Car of the Year went to the Porsche 911 Turbo beating out the Toyota GR Yaris and the Audi RS Q8. Despite not winning the World Luxury Car of the Year, the Land Rover Defender managed to snag the World Car Design of the Year, beating the Honda e and the Mazda MX-30.