Red Dot Award recognition follows strong local interest in iCAUR, with more than 300 V23 orders recorded in South Africa in its first month on sale.
- The iCAUR V23 has won the Red Dot Award: Design Concept 2026, recognising its distinctive design, EV platform architecture, practicality and scope for personalisation.
- The award strengthens iCAUR’s positioning as a design-led new energy vehicle brand, with the V23 also receiving wider industry recognition for product appeal, safety and market performance.
- The V23 has already gained traction in South Africa, securing more than 300 orders in its first month on sale following its local launch in May 2026.
iCAUR South Africa has announced that the all-new V23 has won the Red Dot Award: Design Concept 2026 in Germany, marking a significant international design achievement for the brand.
Established in 1955, the Red Dot Design Award is one of the world’s most respected design competitions, alongside the iF Design Award and the International Design Excellence Awards. The recognition highlights the V23’s original design approach, practical packaging and ability to support a wide range of user lifestyles.
The V23’s design makes full use of its all-electric platform. With a four-wheel-at-the-corners layout, 43-degree approach angle, 41-degree departure angle and 210 mm of ground clearance, the vehicle achieves a confident, purposeful stance. Its near 1:1 width-to-height ratio contributes to its balanced proportions, while its boxy silhouette and clean surfaces give the vehicle a strong and distinctive visual identity.
Several design details reinforce this character, including round headlights, exposed wipers, pixel-style high-mounted stop lights, a nested rear “backpack” element and C-pillar blind windows. These features reference classic off-road design cues while establishing a recognisable design language for the V23.
The vehicle also reflects its new energy positioning through details such as a transparent millimetre-wave radar cover. In addition, more than 29 reserved modification interfaces have been incorporated around the vehicle, allowing users to add accessories and personalise the V23 for different markets, lifestyles and use cases.
The Red Dot recognition further strengthens iCAUR’s positioning as a design-led new energy vehicle brand. It also follows the V23’s growing market presence in several regions.
Since its launch, the V23 has performed strongly in the new energy SUV segment in Southeast Asia. In May, registrations in Thailand exceeded 1,000 units, placing the V23 among the country’s top five all-electric models. In Malaysia, 481 units were delivered in May.
The V23 officially entered the South African market in May 2026, where it received a positive response from media, content creators and prospective customers during local test drive activities. Initial stock sold out in its first month on the market, with more than 300 orders secured in South Africa and additional units on the way to fulfil demand.
“South Africans tend to be quite clear about what they want from a vehicle. It has to look good, but it also has to be useful,” said Shannon Gahagan, National Brand and Marketing Manager for iCAUR South Africa and OMODA & JAECOO South Africa. “That is what has stood out in the response to the V23 so far. People are drawn to the way it looks, but they are also seeing how it could fit into their everyday lives, their weekends and the way they want to make a vehicle their own.”
The model has also received industry recognition beyond design. It ranked first in the midsize all-electric SUV segment in the 2026 China New Energy Vehicle Product Appeal Index Study by J.D. Power. At its debut at the Indonesia Auto Show, it received three awards: Best APM Outdoor Activity, Favourite New Car Launch and Favourite Newcomer Car Brand. The V23 also achieved a five-star ASEAN NCAP safety rating.
The award comes at a time when retro vehicle design continues to gain renewed global interest. For iCAUR, the V23 reflects the brand’s focus on category innovation, original design and practical electric mobility.
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