Tag Archives: j.d power

Auto Insurance Websites Only Rated Fair for Policy Shopping

Auto insurance customers say that using insurance company websites to service an existing policy is generally easier than using them to shop for a policy, according to a new study. Continue reading

Posted in auto news, customer satisfaction | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

U.S. April Vehicle Sales Forecast at 12.1 Million SAAR

The annual sales rate of U.S. new vehicle sales for April is forecast as flat at 12.1 million units. This is the third month this year above 12 million, though, with retail sales of 1,029,000 million projected. Continue reading

Posted in sales | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

March U.S. Auto Sales Forecast Up 8%. Six-Year Loans at Record Levels

Part of the reason for increasing sales appears to be the direct result of the U.S Treasury continuing increase in the money supply by running government printing presses non-stop in an attempt to keep the economy expanding. As a result, easy credit has returned to the marketplace. Customers also appear to be ignoring, if not mocking, the dire predictions of crisis, tragedy and collapse by bickering politicians in Washington. Continue reading

Posted in auto news, news analysis, sales | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Customer Satisfaction Up at U.S. Dealer Service Departments

The CSI rankings are based on dealer service performance during the first three years of new-vehicle ownership, which typically represents the majority of the vehicle warranty period. After the warranty expires, dealerships traditionally have little chance of getting maintenance work as more than two thirds of customers then resort to independent repair shops and mass merchandiser tire, transmission, brake and muffler chains. Continue reading

Posted in aftermarket, auto news, customer satisfaction, news analysis | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

U.S. Vehicle Dependability at All-Time High as New Models Lead

Overall vehicle dependability continues to improve for three-year old models to an all-time high, and for the first time dependability of all-new or substantially redesigned models is greater than carryover models from automakers. This is good new for used car buyers since well maintained off-lease vehicles will likely be durable. This assertion also confounds the conventional wisdom that says avoid buying all new models when they first go on sale. Continue reading

Posted in auto news, customer satisfaction, quality | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Shoppers Don’t Worry about Reliability as Cross Consideration Grows

As perceptions of both reliability and actual vehicle dependability improve, new-vehicle shoppers are considering more models before making their purchase decision, according to a new study. As vehicle quality improves across the industry, new-vehicle shoppers now consider an average of 3.3 vehicles in 2013, compared with 3.1 in 2012 and 2.9 in 2010. Continue reading

Posted in auto news, news analysis, sales | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

January 2013 U.S. Vehicle Sales Forecast as Highest in Five Years

January 2013 new vehicle sales are predicted to come in at 812,600 vehicles for a seasonally adjusted annualized rate or SAAR of 12.9 million units. This is 14% higher than January 2012. Total light-vehicle sales in January 2013 in the United States are projected to reach 1,027,700 units, an 8% increase from January 2012. The encouraging January sales prediction, if true, is well ahead of the forecast of 12.4-million-unit annual level for 2013. Continue reading

Posted in auto news, results, sales | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

December U.S. Auto Sales Forecast to Close the Best Year Since 2007

While still well below the annual rates of 16 to 17 million during the last decade, December’s SAAR is 500,000 units higher than predicted for the 2012 full-year pace. Buyers are apparently ignoring the dire predictions and political posturing from that tawdry cast of cliff dwelling and big-money-bought politicians inhabiting the banks of the Potomac river while living in their taxpayer-funded socialist paradise. Continue reading

Posted in auto news, sales | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Shanghai GM and Audi Lead Latest “Apeal” Study in China

Chinese domestic vehicle brands have narrowed a gap in customer perception, but international brands still lead in a survey based on two to six months of ownership. Models from Shanghai General Motors led in four segments, while Audi rated the highest praise among automakers. Continue reading

Posted in auto news, customer satisfaction, marketing | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Lexus and Mini Lead in New U.S. Sales Satisfaction Survey

Whether it is possible to draw meaningful conclusions from closely ranked sales satisfaction numbers remains an open question among industry marketing executives and observers. Power maintains, not without considerable economic self-interest, that its study is a “comprehensive analysis” of the new-vehicle purchase experience. Continue reading

Posted in auto news, awards, customer satisfaction, marketing, news analysis, sales | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

U.S. Auto Sales to Continue Upward in Latest November Forecast

November U.S. auto sales for new retail vehicles are now predicted at 931,900 cars and light trucks, a 14% bump up year-over-year, which would mean a seasonally adjusted annualized rate or SAAR of 12.9 million units. If accurate, November would see the highest retail rate for the auto industry since January 2008, before the corrupt practices of Wall Street collapsed the global economy and caused the Great Recession alter that year. Retail transactions are said to be the most accurate measurement of true underlying consumer demand for new vehicles. Continue reading

Posted in auto news, economy, sales | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Green Talk from EV Makers Ignores Key Buyer Concern – Cost

While existing buyers of electric vehicles are true EV believers, the vast majority of car shoppers are not. In a new study, nearly half of current EV buyers claim the best benefit of their ac/dc wheels is lower emissions when compared with emissions from gasoline- or diesel-powered vehicles, and it’s not clear if they know how their electricity is generated. However, when you get past this “puddle” of EV buyers – they don’t even form a “pool” since they comprise only about 2.5 % of the U.S. new vehicle market of 14 million – and that’s if you include hybrids as EVs; pure EVs have less than a 1% share – other people need to be brought into the clan. This assumes auto manufacturers are interested in recouping the billions invested so far in electric modes of transportation, prompted almost entirely by government regulations. Continue reading

Posted in auto news, electric vehicles, environment, news analysis | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Chinese Auto Industry Initial Quality at All Time High

Chinese automakers made large improvements in initial quality during 2012, narrowing the gap between domestic and international brands. As a result, the auto industry in the world’s largest auto market set a record low in overall average problems per vehicle. Continue reading

Posted in auto news, engineering, manufacturing, quality | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

October U.S. Sales Forecast Sunny at more than 12 million SAAR

New-vehicle retail sales in October are forecast at 943,200 units, a 13% increase in volume compared with October 2011. This works out to a seasonally adjusted annualized rate or SAAR of 12 million new cars and light trucks. If true, October will be the second consecutive month above 12 million units, the first time since April and May 2008 before the Great Recession set in. Continue reading

Posted in auto news, economy, marketing, results, sales | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Most Buyers Shopping for New Vehicles use Personal Computers

While the buzz in the computer world is all about the growth of mobile devices to access the Internet, so-called tablets and smartphones are only being used by one in five new-vehicle buyers. This compares to nearly all (99%) buyers who use a desktop or laptop computer at some point when shopping for new wheels. Continue reading

Posted in auto news, marketing, news analysis, results, sales | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment