AM can reveal the finalists selected for this year's AM Awards.

Our panel of judges, chaired by Christopher Macgowan, spent the end of last week considering all the entries, including audits by awards partner MSX International, to whittle them down to a final shortlist.

The winner of each category will be revealed only on the night of the 2012 AM Awards (www.am-awards.co.uk) on February 15 at Birmingham's International Convention Centre.

Here is the 2012 AM Awards shortlist of finalists:

Innovation Awards
Best Training Programme Sponsored By: Black Horse
Cross Roads Subaru
Foray Motor Group
Perrys Motor Sales

Best Dealer Website Sponsored By: Motors.co.uk
Fords of Winsford
Grimshaws Vauxhall
Lookers
Vospers Motorhouse

Best Digital Initiative Sponsored By: Razsor
Co-operative Motor Group
Grants Seat
Harwoods Group

Best Marketing Initiative Sponsored By: Auto Trader
Blackshaws Garage (Alnwick)
Harwoods Group
Mercedes-Benz UK - Live Race

 

Excellence in Business
Excellence in Customer Service Sponsored By: Emac
Cox Motor Group – Lancaster Honda
Knights North Staffordshire
Wood in Salisbury

Most Improved Company of the Year Sponsored By: Total Lubricants
Luscombe Suzuki Leeds
Unity Automotive Peterborough

Sales Team of the Year (New or Used Cars) Sponsored By: Barclays Partner Finance
Lodge Garage
Romford Mazda

Aftersales Operation of the Year Sponsored By: (Techron) Chevron Products
Blackshaws Garage (Alnwick)
Cox Motor Group – Blackpool Honda

Manufacturer Awards
Used Car of the Year Sponsored By: Car Care Plan
Audi A3 Sportback
Fiat 500
Jaguar XF
Nissan Qashqai
Volkswagen Golf

New Car of the Year Sponsored By: Supagard
Ford Focus
Hyundai i40 Tourer
Range Rover Evoque
Vauxhall Astra GTC

Franchise of the Year Sponsored By: Ai Automotive
Audi UK
Ford Motor Company
Land Rover UK
Nissan GB

 

Retailer Awards
Tyre Retailer of the Year Sponsored By: Continental Tyre Group
Arnold Clark Automobiles
Perth Audi

Best Fleet Dealership
Chiswick Honda
Norton Way Mazda

Best Used Car Retailer Sponsored By: Experian
Eddie Wright
Fords of Winsford
McCarthy Cars

Best Dealership Sponsored By: The Warranty Group
Cross Roads Garage
David Taylor (Garages)
Romford Mazda
Strathmore Motors – Volvo

Best Retail Group (up to 10 sites) Sponsored By: Diamondbrite
John Grose Group
Spire Automotive
Stephen James Group

Best Retail Group (more than 10 sites) Sponsored By: Mapfre Abraxas
Day’s Motor Group
Drive Motor Retail
Ridgeway Group

 

Headline Awards
Carmaker of the Year Sponsored By: Mondial Assistance
Hyundai Motor UK
Land Rover UK
Skoda UK

Retailer of the Year Sponsored By: Q8Oils
N/A – Shortlist is made up of the winners from each Retail category

Personality of the Year Sponsored By: Easi-Drive
N/A – Chosen by the editor of AM

AM Hall of Fame Sponsored By: Northridge Finance
N/A – Chosen by the editor of AM