The shortlist for the 40th International Grands Prix for Automotive Innovation at EQUIP AUTO Paris 2025

The EQUIP AUTO jury reveals the shortlist for the
40th International Grands Prix for Automotive Innovation at EQUIP AUTO Paris 2025

Paris, July 2025 – In keeping with each edition over the years, the unmissable international event for automotive professionals is shining a spotlight on the breakthroughs in the sector. The International Grands Prix for Automotive Innovation are celebrating their 40th anniversary this year. The competition distinguishes the most innovative concepts, products and services while showcasing the technologies currently emerging in the industry. Their goal since 1985 has been to offer a platform to the solutions providing genuine benefits to automotive maintenance and service professionals and to end users.

These Awards are open to all EQUIP AUTO exhibitors, and this year are sponsored by Olga Givernet, French MP for the 3rd constituency of the Ain department, and former minister for Energy.
The International Grands Prix for Automotive Innovation judging panel, made up of French and international journalists from the trade press and general interest media, voted from 8 to 15 July to draw up a shortlist of the innovations divided into eight categories and a special CSR award created this year.

In all, out of the 166 innovations submitted, 46 entries were nominated by the Grands Prix judges this year: five nominees in each category and six for the CSR award.

Bodywork, paintwork and auto glass category: 5 nominees

• 3M France, 3M™ Cubitron™ II Hookit™ 737U sanding disc
• IXELL, Ixell Paint Assistant
• PPG Industries, PPG LINQ™ digital ecosystem
• RR ÉQUIPEMENTS, Guni Wheel X
• VBSA, IRON CUT, Innovative dual drive windscreen cutting kit

Lubricants, vehicle care products, washing and roadside services category: 5 nominees

• ATE VDO, ATE SecuBrake brake fluid
• BOSCH, Brake fluid
• ELF, Quartz EV3R concept
• GETRAC, Spraystation
• KÄRCHER, eco!Booster

Original equipment category: 5 nominees

• DELPHI, Hydrogen injection system
• FORVIA HELLA, E-FUSE
• MICHELIN, MICHELIN Crossclimate 3 Sport
• VALEO, Triple wet clutch for hybrid vehicles
• VALEO, Valeo ProLongium Ventilated Clutch

Tyres: products and solutions category: 5 nominees

• ATEQ TPMS, VT67 RFID
• CAROOL, ScanDrive
• MICHELIN, MICHELIN light particle analysis system (SAMPLE)
• MICHELIN, MICHELIN CrossClimate 3
• MICHELIN, MICHELIN RFID Solution @EquipAuto2025

Parts, equipment and components for aftersales category: 5 nominees

• AISIN, Automatic transmission (AT) overhaul kit
• Car Lock Systems France, Sleeping Battery
• MANN+HUMMEL, MANN-FILTER : Naturally better
• OSRAM LIGHTING, Nightbreaker Speed H7 LED
• VALEO, Remanufactured DQ250 dual clutch

Garage tooling and equipment category: 5 nominees

• BOSCH, ESI[tronic] : Tesla Diagnosis
• FORVIA HELLA, CSC TOOL X20
• MAHA France, MAIA
• TEXA, E DIAG CHARGER
• Spheretech Europe, EASYDIAG®-DPF
• Spheretech Europe, EASYDIAG®-DPF

Digital solutions & connectivity category: 5 nominees

• BOSCH, Bosch Vehicle Health Certificate
• CarCutter, 3D Virtual Tour by CarCutter
• Infopro Digital Automotive, IA-enriched semantic search integrated into Atelio Data and Atelio Fid software and RTA and Haynes websites
• MAHA, MAST
• ZF AFTERMARKET, ZF [pro]Manager

Energy transition, sustainability, circular economy category: 5 nominees

• Be Energy, Hybrid battery Regen System (Nimh)
• Guernet, E-box
• Henkel Technologies France, LOCTITE E-mobility repair solutions
• MAHLE Aftermarket France, BatteryPRO E-CARE Fluid
• THE FUTURE IS NEUTRAL, EV remanufacturing proposition (electric engine and power electronics)

Special CSR award: 6 nominees

• BOSCH, Bosch DOT 4 E brake fluid
• Be Energy, Hybrid battery Regen System (Nimh)
• DELPHI, Hydrogen injection system
• ELF, Quartz EV3R concept
• MANN+HUMMEL, MANN-FILTER : Naturally better
• MICHELIN, MICHELIN small, emitted particle analysis system (SAMPLE)

The 100 members of the jury chose the most innovative products from among the 166 entries submitted by the exhibitors, and I would like to thank them for doing so. The quality of the shortlisted innovations demonstrates the importance that exhibitors have given to the 40th anniversary of the International Grands Prix for Automotive Innovation and the 50th anniversary of EQUIP AUTO,” said trade media journalist Bertrand Gay, the Chairman of the Bureau for the International Grands Prix for Automotive Innovation.

“The selected innovations highlight three major trends from the upstream to downstream automotive industry: the need to cut vehicles’ carbon footprint, the increase in system and equipment recyclability and lifespan, and finally the desire to make repairs easier through ever more effective diagnostic equipment and methods that are easy to deploy by mechanics and body repairers,” concluded Bertrand Gay.

In early September, the shortlisted candidate will give an oral presentation of their entries, before the judges conduct their final vote from 9 to 14 September. The winners will be announced on 16 September, and the awards will be presented on the EQUIP AUTO Arena on 15 October at a ceremony open to all the exhibition’s exhibitors and visitors.