Posted on April 20, 2012, at 12:11 pm
 Jeremy Bowler For the first time in three calendar quarters, satisfaction with the claims experience among auto insurance customers who filed an auto claim for damage to their vehicle has declined. In fact, the industry index score dropped 13 points to 842 (on a 1,000-point scale), according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2012 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction StudySM—Wave 2.
Among the six factors* measured in the study, First Notice of Loss, which is when the customer first notifies the insurance provider of damage to their vehicle, experienced the biggest drop (-19 points). Some 47% of claimants delayed dropping off their vehicle at the body shop in order to wait for a more convenient time, and 20% indicated waiting for weekends or holidays. Continue reading ›
Posted on April 18, 2012, at 10:14 am
 The first-quarter of 2012 ended on a strong note for automakers in the U.S. market despite higher gas prices, which began to drop slightly in the past week and in spite of the negative influence of still high unemployment rates. On a seasonally adjusted annual selling basis, the first-quarter selling rate, or SAAR, averaged 11.7 million units for retail and 14.5 million units for total light vehicles—a tempo that was ahead of our earlier retail and total sales forecast.
In fact, the selling pace in the first three months of 2012 outperformed the J.D. Power annual sales forecast for the first time since 2008, when the auto market began slipping into recession, according to Jeff Schuster, senior vice president of forecasting at LMC Automotive.*
Fiat-Chrysler and VW Groups Make First-Quarter Sales Headlines
Two multi-franchise automakers, Fiat-Chrysler and Volkswagen Groups, achieved stellar double-digit sales and share gains in the first quarter of 2012 vs. their results in the same 3-month period a year ago. In addition, two of the four smaller independents, Fuji Heavy Industries’ Subaru brand and Mazda, also posted robust, double-digit year-over-year gains vs. the same period in 2011. Continue reading ›
Posted on April 12, 2012, at 2:00 am
Matthew Racho
We expect this alliance to have a very positive effect for dealers, manufacturers, and our industry. The alliance will allow for increased dealer participation across the U.S., providing deeper penetration into retail transactions across all markets, and enabling more extensive regional and local market analysis.
With over 20 years’ experience . . . Continue Reading Alliance with NADA Provides Key Benefits for Dealers and Automakers
Posted on April 11, 2012, at 5:00 am
 David Sargent The global automotive spotlight was shining brightly on the dozens of new model debuts and more than 1,000 vehicles on display earlier this month at the New York International Auto Show. While some of the vehicles shown in New York had already debuted at previous shows in Los Angeles, Detroit or Geneva, Switzerland, many were seen for the first time by the public.
There was an overall buzz at the Javits Center in New York City about the auto industry rebounding to sales levels last seen before the financial crisis of 2008. J.D. Power’s forecasting alliance partner LMC Automotive expects global light-vehicle sales to increase to 79.2 million in 2012, a 5% increase from 2011. All major regions are expected to post stronger sales in 2012, compared with 2011.
Japan is expected to see strong growth with sales of 4.8 million, up 16% from 2011. Sales in India are expected to reach 3.2 million in 2012, up 11% from 2011, while China’s sales are expected to increase 9% to 19.7 million. Brazil’s sales are expected to grow 1% in 2012 to 3.5 million. In addition, LMC Automotive expects 14.1 million new light vehicles to be sold in the U.S. this year. Continue reading ›
Posted on April 9, 2012, at 6:00 am
 Tim Dunne The continuation of higher gas prices in the U.S.—averaging $3.93 per gallon at the beginning of April—and less discretionary spending due to consumers who are under-employed or unemployed are two outcomes of the U.S. financial turmoil that began in 2008. One result is that consumers are now buying smaller vehicles with more fuel-efficient engines. Continue reading ›
Posted on April 6, 2012, at 6:00 am
David Sargent
This week during the opening ceremonies of the New York International Auto Show, J.D. Power presented plaques to executives from Cadillac and MINI to recognize their strong improvement in the quality, dependability and appeal of their vehicle models and for the dealership experience during the past three years.*
Cadillac was singled . . . Continue Reading Cadillac, MINI Brands Recognized for Outstanding Customer Service
Posted on April 5, 2012, at 6:00 am
 Tim Dunne While light-vehicle sales have been strong in the first quarter of 2012, rising gasoline prices—which averaged $3.92 nationwide at the end of March (according to AAA’s Daily Fuel Gauge Report)—have convinced many consumers to purchase smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles.
Through the first two months of the year, sales of sub-compact and compact passenger cars have accounted for approximately 25% of all retail sales. Sales of sub-compact vehicles have increased the most, up more than 35% in the first two months of 2012, compared to the same period in 2011.
Yesterday’s sales update with March delivery numbers confirms the trend since sub-compact vehicle sales soared 36.3% and total U.S. new light-vehicle sales reached 1.4 million units, according to LMC Automotive, which is the highest monthly total since 2008, based on analysis from our Power Information Network® (PIN) and LMC Automotive.*
J.D. Power’s John Humphrey, senior vice president of global automotive operations, suggests that higher vehicle sales are obviously welcome news for the U.S. automotive industry and general economy, but he points out that automakers are going to have to closely monitor shifts in segment demand and build accordingly. Continue reading ›
Posted on April 4, 2012, at 2:38 pm
 The Nissan Versa was the best-selling Sub-Compact in March. Higher fuel prices helped prime sales of smaller and more fuel-efficient passenger cars, especially Sub-Compact and some Compact Conventional segment models, which boosted U.S. new-vehicle deliveries in March for nearly all automakers. The seasonally adjusted annual sales pace (SAAR) was more than 1 million units stronger than a year ago, and many automakers said March sales were their strongest since March 2008.
More than 1.4 million new vehicles were sold in the U.S. market during March, which was up 8.7% (on a selling-day-adjusted basis) from March 2011, when fewer than 1 million units were delivered, according to analysis from our Power Information Network® (PIN) and LMC Automotive.** The sales pace in March 2012 averaged 14.4 million units vs. 13 million units in March 2011.
At the segment level, Sub-Compact sales soared 36.3% and outperformed the industry, gaining nearly 1 point of share to garner 4.6% of industry sales, while Compact Conventional sales edged up only 3.1%, but still accounted for a 15.8% share of the market. Led by Toyota Camry, Nissan Altima and Ford Fusion, Midsize Conventional segment sales increased by 23.3% and the category captured 2 more points of share to end March with 18.4% of industry sales. Also noteworthy: Large Pickups, up 9.3% as a category and with the help of incentives, outperformed the industry’s 8.7% improvement as the segment garnered a 10.4% share in March 2012. Continue reading ›
Posted on April 2, 2012, at 7:08 am
High owner satisfaction with new-vehicle tires in the U.S. has a definite positive impact on loyalty to a vehicle brand as well as on dealer loyalty, according to results in our 2012 U.S. Original Equipment Tire Customer Satisfaction Study, which is based on responses from more than 27,000 new-vehicle owners who purchased a 2010 or 2011 model-year vehicle.
When automakers choose better performing tires for their vehicles, they are likely to build greater loyalty for the vehicle brand and increase the potential for future service business at their brand dealerships. Continue reading ›
Posted on March 27, 2012, at 7:03 am
 Tim Dunne During the past few years, exports of passenger vehicles from China have quietly been making gains, with total exports quadrupling from just 100,000 units in 2009 to more than 400,000 units in 2011. China’s exports are forecast to surpass 1 million units annually by 2019, according to LMC Automotive. China’s export performance in 2011 made it the fourth-largest exporting nation in Asia, behind Japan, Korea and Thailand.
China’s Auto Exports Grow More Slowly due to Local Market, Quality Issues
While China has been the center of production and exports for many of the world’s goods, the export of vehicles has not been as prominent. There are several reasons why auto exports have lagged: First, because the Chinese domestic market has been growing at such an unprecedented pace, automakers with local production have focused on capturing and building their share of the local market; and secondly, the quality of Chinese-made vehicles has needed to become more competitive with global quality standards. Continue reading ›
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