The 2023 Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot Award for books in languages other than English will be awarded to one or more books published in the previous year that best advance the understanding of the history of the automobile, and are written in any language except English.

Consideration will be given to automotive histories that focus on vehicles, manufacturers, individuals and events, as well as social histories of the automobile that examine the effect of the automobile on society, culture, and everyday life.

The Award Panel may also select an additional book or books published in the previous calendar year for secondary recognition with an Award of Distinction.

Please note that a separate Cugnot Award is given for books written in English.

Requirements

All nominations and enquiries should be sent by email to sahawards@autohistory.org. Your email will then be forwarded to the Cugnot (LOE) committee chair.

Nominations should include the name of the award, the book being nominated, the name and contact information of individual making the nomination, and one or two lines outlining the reason for making the nomination.

Once a nomination has been accepted, the book in question should be forwarded to the Cugnot Award committee as directed by the committee chair.

All books submitted for the Cugnot Award become the property of the SAH and are deposited in the Society of Automotive Historians Special Reference Collection at the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum in Auburn, Indiana.

Please note neither nominees nor nominators have to be SAH members, and please remember the Cugnot Award is for books published in the previous calendar year.

All nominations for the Cugnot Award must be received by June 15 of this year. Be sure to apply by the deadline.

See our other awards

Previous Award Winners

2025

  • Christian Suhr — Krupp Des Ostens: Das Fahrzeugwerk Hunger aus Frankenberg, published by Verlag Kraftakt
  • Donatella Biffignandi & Alessandro Silva — Diatto, published by AISA

2024

  • Award of Distinction: Marian Suman-Hreblay — Encyclopedie Motocyclu, Ceske Slovenske Motocykly od Roku 1899 po Soucasnost
  • Robert Przybylski — Star: Kolebka Polskiej Motoryzachji [Star: A Cradle of Polish Automotive History]

2023

  • Otfried Jaus, Paul Schilperoord & Andy Schwietzer — Alles Mit Motor, Die Standard/Gutbrod Story, published in 2022 by CEAUTO Gmbh
  • Award of Distinction: Donatella Biffignandi — Itala – Splendore e declino di una grande marca, published in 2022 by AISA

2022

  • Gerhard Heidbrink, Joachim Hack & Wolfgang Kalbhenn — Mercedes-Benz C 111, published by Motorbuch Verlag

2021

  • Erich Karsholt — Danskbilproduktion, published by Strandbergs Forlag A/S
  • Award of Distinction: Christian Rouxel — Fenaille & Despeaux, Fancetre d’Esso, published by E.T.A.I.

2020

  • Harry Niemann — Paul Daimler, König des Kompressors, published by Motorburch Verlag

2019

  • Manuel Lage — La Hispano Suiza, empresa pionera, El Deportivo Alfonao XIII, published by Ministry of Economy and Business
  • Award of Distinction: Gundula Tutt — Kutschenlack, Asphaltschwarz & Nitroglanz Fahrzeuglackierung zwischen 1900 und 1945, published by Karren Publishing
  • Award of Distinction: Thomas Braun — Durchgeboxt, published by Schneider Media

2018

  • Award of Distinction: Dobieslav Wielinski — Encyklopedia Poznanskiej Motoryzacji
  • Sébastien Faurès Fustel de Coulanges — Lorraine-Dietrich: de la Voiture de Grand Luxe ah Geant de l’Aeronautigue, published by E.T.A.I.

2017

  • Manuel Lage — Los Proyectos Deconocidos de CETA y Pegaso, published by Fundacion Jorge Jove

2016

  • Borzou Sepasi — Iran Royal Garage, self-published in Farsi
  • Award of Distinction: Niels Hamann — Weismann – Power and Passion, published by Schneider Media

2015

  • Jean-Louis Loubet — Lifetime Achievement in research and publications in automotive history of France
  • Award of Distinction: Christian Suhr — Ikarus – Busse fur die Welt, published by Verlagkraftakt

2014

  • Claude Rouxel, Laurent Friry & Sébastien Faurès Fustel de Coulanges — Farman, De I’aviation a I’automobile, published by E.T.A.I.
  • Award of Distinction: Marian Suman-Hreblay — Aerodynamicke Automobiliy, published by CPress, Brno

2013

  • Hans-Jurgen Schneider & Stefan Knittel — BMW Gespanne, published by Schneider Media
  • Award of Distinction: Mario Foghieri & Daniel Buzzonetti — La Ferrari secondo Forghieri dal 1947 a Oggi, published by Girogio Nada Editore

2012

  • No Award — No Award

2011

  • Award of Distinction: Christian Suhr — Lindner, Karosserien und Anhänger aus Ammendorf, published by Verlag Kraftakt
  • Award of Distinction: Marián Šuman-Hreblay — Tatra, Nákladní a Užitková Vozidla, Autobusy a Trolejbusy, published by Computer Press
  • Claud Rouxel & Laurent Friry — Gotha de l’Automobile Francaise

2010

  • Sébastien Faurès Fustel de Coulanges — Fiat en Grand Prix, 1920-1930, published by E.T.A.I.
  • Hans-Jürgen Schneider & Halwart Schrader — Legende: BMW 02, published by Schneider Text Editions
  • Award of Distinction: Andrzej Zielinski — Samochody osobowe, published by Wydawnictwa Komunikacji in Warsaw

2009

  • Manuel Lage — 1,000,000: Un Millón de Camiones y Buses Españoles, published by IVECO España
  • Award of Distinction: Adrien Cahuzac — SIMCA – L’aventure de l’hirondelle, published by E.T.A.I.
  • Award of Distinction: Bernard Vermeylen — Voitures Des Pays De L’est, published by E.T.A.I.

2008

  • Christian Rouxel — d’Azur à Total: Desmarais Frères, le premier grand petrolier français, published by Drivers
  • Award of Distinction: Roger Gloor — Alle Autos der 50er Jahre 1945-1960, published by Motorbuch Verlag

2007

  • Horst Ihling — Autorennsport in der DDR – BMW (Ost), EMW, Wartburg
  • Award of Distinction: Roger Gloor — Alle Autos der 60er Jahre

2006

  • Award of Distinction: Monique Chapelle — Berliet, published by Éditions Le Télégramme
  • Award of Distinction: Daniel Cabart & Claude Rouxel — La belle voiture française, published by E.T.A.I.
  • Bernard Vermeylen — Panhard & Levassor – entre tradition et modernité, published by E.T.A.I.

2005

  • Award of Distinction: Michael Graf Wolff Metternich & Hans-Otto Neubauer — Sie Bauten Autos, published by Verlag Hermann E. Sieger GmbH
  • Award of Distinction: Hubert Bonin, Thierry Grosbois, Nicolas Hatzfeld & J-L Loubet — Ford en France et en Belgique, published by éditions P.L.A.G.E.

2004

  • Stanislaw Szelichowski — Sto Lat Polskiej Motoryzacji, published by Krakowska Oficyna SAB
  • Halwart Schrader — BMW Automobile, published by Motorbuch Verlag
  • Award of Distinction: Marie-Christine Rouxel — Renault en Afrique: Croisières automobiles et raids aériens 1901-1939, published by E.T.A.I.

2003

  • Claude Rouxel, Marc Griselhubert, Claude Gueldry & Jacques Dorizon — Renault des automobiles de prestige, published by E.T.A.I.
  • Award of Distinction: Halwart Schrader — Deutsche Autos Band 1 – 1885-1920, published by Motorbuch-Verlag

2002

  • Asbjorn Rolseth — Handwerk på Hjul (Rolling Coachwork – The Story of Norwegian Bodymakers)
  • Award of Distinction: Maurice Louche — Le Rallye Monte-Carlo au XXème Siècle

2001

  • No awards — No awards

2000

  • Emilio Polo — La Hispano-Suiza: El Vuelo de las Cigüeñas 1916-1931, published by Wings and Flags
  • Award of Distinction: Horst-Dieter Görg & Torsten Hamacher — Hanomag-Personenwagen von Hannover in die Welt, published by Mundschenk Druck-und Verlagsgesellschaft mbH