Posted on March 27, 2013, at 2:00 am
 Earlier this year, AutoNation announced that the company is fulfilling a dream that “one day all of our stores can be AutoNation,” according to Mike Jackson, chairman and CEO of the largest public auto retailer group in the United States. On January 31, “We took the step because we think we are at an inflection point both as a company and as an industry,” Jackson said, as the company continues its strategy to brand its stores AutoNation from coast to coast during the coming months.
Since the announcement was made, the company has begun its rebranding effort with its 160 domestic and mass-market import-brand stores. The rollout began in Florida, which is AutoNation’s home territory. The group is based in Fort Lauderdale. However, news reports say that the German premium or luxury brands have been reluctant to rebrand their stores. Continue reading ›
Posted on March 21, 2013, at 2:00 am
 Everyone in our industry should be excited about Honda’s challenge to lead the development for a super car here in the U.S., John Mendel, senior vice president of automotive sales for American Honda Co., Inc., told participants at the recent J.D. Power and Associates 2013 Automotive International Roundtable. He further discussed how the Acura brand will fit into Honda Group’s future:
“I was excited to see the new Corvette Stingray in Detroit at the auto show. We provided an update of the 2014 Acura NSX Concept, showcasing the evolution of NSX from the concept model that we showcased last year. We’re heading toward production of that model. NSX is going to provide an exciting halo for the Acura brand when it comes to market in about two years.” Continue reading ›
Posted on March 14, 2013, at 2:00 am
 For a fifth straight year, Lexus ranks highest in overall customer service satisfaction, and is also the highest-performing Premium brand, while GMC earns the highest score among Mass-Market brands, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2013 Customer Service Index (CSI) Study, SM which is based on responses from 91,000 owners or lessees of one- to three-year-old vehicles who have taken their vehicle to a dealer for maintenance or repair service in the past 6 months.
At the industry level, both Premium and Mass-Market brands improve by 11 index points this year. Although Premium brands receive the highest scores and represent the top 10 brands in the overall industry rankings, some individual Mass-Market brands made strong strides forward this year. For instance, all four General Motors brands perform well: Cadillac ranks second-highest overall and among Premium brands, and among Mass-Market brands, GMC, Buick and Chevrolet are among the four highest-ranking nameplates, along with BMW Group’s Mini. Continue reading ›
Posted on March 11, 2013, at 2:00 am
 John Humphrey Significant changes in population and other demographics in the United States will affect the automotive industry in the years to come, according to John Humphrey, senior vice president of global automotive at J.D. Power and Associates, in remarks to participants at the recent J.D. Power 2013 International Automotive Roundtable in Orlando, FL, that was co-sponsored with NADA. Humphrey summarized a few of the major changes:
Between 2012 and 2020, the U.S. population will grow nearly 10%—from 313 million to 341 million. Most of this growth will occur in already large markets, with much movement from rural to urban areas. Currently, the most populous U.S. states are California, Texas, New York and Florida, and most of these will experience the most growth in the next decade. This growth trend will have a significant impact on what products OEMs offer in specific markets—in terms of utility, fuel economy, weather conditions—and the retailing strategies needed to attract and retain customers in these markets. Continue reading ›
Posted on March 8, 2013, at 2:00 am
 John Mendel John Mendel, executive vice president, automotive sales, at American Honda Motor Co., expressed optimism about the future of the auto industry as well as Honda Group’s goal to sell 6 million units worldwide by 2017 during last month’s J.D. Power and Associates 2013 International Roundtable in Orlando, FL, that was co-sponsored with NADA.
Excerpts from Mendel’s outlook for the auto industry and growth plans for Honda and Acura in addition to responses to a Q&A session moderated by Mike Jackson, chairman and CEO of AutoNation, Inc., will be highlighted in several posts during the next week.
Outlook for the Auto Market in 2013
“We’re very optimistic about the future, collectively as an industry, and without question for our own business. Think about it—we continue to come out of one of the worst economic crises in our history. Certainly the Great Depression of the ‘30s was worse. But the auto industry at that time was a much smaller and far different business than it is today. Continue reading ›
Posted on March 5, 2013, at 2:00 am
 John Humphrey On balance, J.D. Power is optimistic about the auto market in the United States, John Humphrey, senior vice president, global automotive, told participants at the recent J.D. Power 2013 International Automotive Roundtable in Orlando, FL, that was co-sponsored with NADA. The industry is benefitting right now from an older fleet and pent-up demand that will continue to bolster the market for the next 3-4 years.
The rebound in the U.S. market is also being aided by a recovery in the housing sector, although this is still in its nascent state. Some risks to the U.S. recovery include the spread of fear due to the Euro debt crisis—whether real or psychological—and whether the United States has truly resolved its own fiscal crisis, or merely delayed it. In addition, geo-political risks in the Middle East, East Asia and North Africa need to be monitored. Continue reading ›
Posted on February 19, 2013, at 2:00 am
David Sargent
The fewer problems that vehicle owners experience with their vehicle translates to greater loyalty to the brand, according to J.D. Power research. When we combine previous-year results from our U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) with actual vehicle trade-in data from our Power Information Network® (PIN), we discover that more than one-half . . . Continue Reading Vehicle Dependability Equates to Higher Loyalty
Posted on February 15, 2013, at 2:00 am
Jacqueline Anderson
Some 30 auto brands are included in the inaugural J.D. Power and Associates 2013 Social Media Benchmarking Study.SM Eight brands, including Cadillac, Fiat, Ford, Hyundai, Kia, Lexus, Nissan and Toyota, are identified as top performers in social marketing, while four, including Chevrolet, Ford, Subaru and Toyota, rank among the highest performers in satisfaction . . . Continue Reading A Number of Auto Brands Receive High Satisfaction Scores for Social Media Marketing
Posted on February 14, 2013, at 11:42 am
 Jackie Anderson J.D. Power’s first cross-brand 2013 Social Media Benchmark Study, which measures consumer experience in engaging with companies through social media, finds that the automotive industry ranks among the highest in customer satisfaction with social media marketing and servicing engagements. The study, which is based on an online survey of 23,274 respondents from general population online panels in the United States, examines how consumers use social media to connect with companies in six major industries for two distinct purposes: social marketing and social servicing interactions.
A few interesting findings from this year’s study analysis of respondents’ evaluations are highlighted:
• The auto industry is different from the other five industries evaluated because consumers engage and have social media relationships with the automaker or OEM, the product, and with the dealer. Continue reading ›
Posted on February 14, 2013, at 2:00 am
 The Toyota Group earns seven segment-level dependability awards in the J.D. Power and Associates 2013 U.S. Vehicle Dependability StudySM (VDS), which is based on responses from owners of 3-year old vehicles (2010 model year). General Motors follows with four segment-level model awards.
Toyota Motor Corp.’s three brands—Toyota, Lexus and Scion—had a total of seven models that received awards for the lowest problems per 100 vehicles (PP100) scores in the 18 award-eligible segments.* One of these models, the Lexus RX, achieves the lowest PP100 score in the industry—57 PP100. This is the first time in the history of the VDS that a crossover or SUV has achieved this distinction, and a 41% improvement in reported problems in comparison to the model’s performance in J.D. Power’s Initial Quality Study (IQS) for 2010. Continue reading ›
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