Hyundai Motor Co.’s new Genesis premium sedan made it onto the finalists’ list of the 2015 North American Car of the Year awards, the company said Tuesday.

The two other cars tapped were Ford Motor Co.’s Mustang and Volkswagen AG’s GTI, Hyundai Motor America, the sales and marketing arm of South Korea’s No. 1 carmaker, said. A total of 28 cars were considered for the 2015 awards and 10 were shortlisted in late September.

The winner of the award will be announced at the 2015 North American International Auto Show in Detroit that runs from Jan. 12-25.

The new Genesis, launched in late 2013 in South Korea, started reaching the North American market this year and has been getting rave reviews. It also undercut all of its main luxury car rivals by over $10,000.

“We are thrilled that the Genesis has been listed as a finalist among the amazing cast of contenders, and we anxiously await the jury’s final vote,” HMA president David Zuchowski said.

The jury is made up of over 50 veteran full-time automotive journalists in the United States and Canada.

Hyundai’s Sonata, the Acura TLX, the Audi A3, the Chrysler 200, Honda Fit, Mercedes-Benz C-class and Toyota Camry had been on the shortlist.

In 2009, the previous generation Genesis became the very first North American Car of the Year win for Hyundai. Since then, the company’s Elantra compact won the title in 2012, while its Sonata midsize sedan was runner-up in 2011.

HMA said it sold 27,069 Genesis sedans in the United States in the first 11 months of this year, with 2,431 sold in November alone. (Yonhap)