Click for more information.
You can sell EVs, but you can’t service them to the customer’s satisfaction. That’s the bottom line of the results of the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Customer Service Index (CSI) Study,SM released today. The growing volume of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) being serviced at dealerships is having a negative effect on overall customer service satisfaction, resulting in a year-over-year decline in score for the first time in 28 years. Satisfaction with the service experience declines 2 points to 846 (on a 1000-point scale) in this year’s study. This is not necessarily statistically significant, AutoInformed notes, but it could become a worrisome trend.
“As the electric vehicle segment grows, service is going to be a ‘make or break’ part of the ownership experience,” said Chris Sutton, vice president of automotive retail at J.D. Power. “The industry has been hyper-focused on launches and now these customers are bringing their electric vehicles in for maintenance and repairs. As training programs for service advisors and technicians evolve, EV service quality and customer experience must address both the vehicle and the unique customer needs. The EV segment has the potential to spur massive convenience improvements in how customers service their vehicles—but we’re not seeing the benefits yet.” Continue reading
Nissan X-in-1 – Shared, Modular EV Components
Click for more information.
Nissan has a new approach to electrified powertrain development, which it calls “X-in-1”. Under the approach, core EV and e-POWER powertrain components will be shared and modularized, resulting in a 30% reduction, compared to 2019, in development and manufacturing costs by 2026, Nissan claims (7201.T-JP: Tokyo Stock Exchange). The X-in-1 approach, which covers 3-in-1, as well as 5-in-1, and other possible variants, has been developed to allow EV and e-POWER core components to be produced on the same assembly line, Nissan said in Yokohama, Japan.
“We make the most of our expertise and know-how from our more-than-a-decade long development and production of electrified technologies. Through our innovations in electrified powertrain development, we’ll continue to create new value for customers and deliver 100% motor-driven vehicles – EVs and e-POWER – as widely as possible,” said Senior Vice President Toshihiro Hirai, who leads powertrain & EV engineering powertrain development. Like all automakers, converting to EVs is an expensive process, potentially ruinous for shareholders. Continue reading →