J.D. POWER

Cue the Music: Cadillac Escalade is Tops in New Vehicle Satisfaction

June 14, 2016 by admin 2 Comments

AutoPacific announces the results of its latest vehicle satisfaction award.

Tesla Model S.

Purchase a new car and vehicle satisfaction should come with the territory. Unfortunately, disappointments abound and some models simply do not measure up.

New Vehicle Satisfaction Survey

AutoPacific conducts a New Vehicle Satisfaction Survey annually to identify the top performing vehicles. Relying strictly on owner input, this particular award provides perhaps the most accurate measurement of how consumers feel about their purchase decisions.

Unlike other surveys which measure reliability or quality to the exclusion of owner satisfaction, the AutoPacific survey has owners rating 50 attributes for importance in the purchase decision and satisfaction after purchase.

23 Vehicle Categories Surveyed

Twenty three vehicle categories are surveyed, representing 10 passenger car segments and 13 light truck segments.

The 2016 Top Overall Vehicle and President’s Award winner is the Cadillac Escalade. The 2016 Highest Satisfaction Overall and Premium Brand is Tesla. The 2016 Highest Satisfaction for a Popular Brand is Kia. Notably, Tesla finished on top overall for the second consecutive year.

The following passenger cars finished on top in their respective categories: Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Nissan Maxima, Volvo S60/V60, Hyundai Azera, Kia Optima, Mercedes-Benz CLA, Kia Soul, Honda Fit, Chevrolet Corvette, and the Chevrolet Camaro.

Compact Favorite: Kia Soul

Top Aspirational Luxury Car

The Volvo S60/V60 finished on top in the Aspirational Luxury Car segment for the second consecutive year. The Kia Soul was best in class among compact cars for the third consecutive year. Other repeat winners include the Honda Fit in the economy car segment (two years) and the Chevrolet Corvette as the top sports car for a fifth consecutive year.

Among light trucks were the following winners: GMC Sierra 1500, GMC Sierra HD, Nissan Frontier, Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Suburban, Toyota 4Runner, Mercedes-Benz GLE, Lexus RX, GMC Acadia, Nissan Murano, Nissan Rogue, Hyundai Tucson, and the Kia Sedona.

Two repeat winners were recognized this year. In the large crossover SUV category the GMC Acadia won for the third consecutive year. In the premium midsize crossover SUV segment, the Nissan Murano won for the second consecutive year.

Tesla, Kia Soul & Cadillac Escalade

Tesla Motors garnering the top prize is based on sales for only two models: a Model S sedan and the Model X crossover utility vehicle. The Model S has been on the market for five years, while the Model X only began selling in small numbers last fall.

The Kia Soul is now in its second generation; the current model has been on the market since 2014. The compact hatchback defies easy categorization, but has won a strong fan following. As most people know, a team of anthropomorphic hamsters helps market the popular Soul.

Needing no introduction is the Cadillac Escalade, a full-bodied luxury SUV and one that advances all things ostentatious. Introduced in 1999, the Cadillac Escalade is now its fourth generation. The beefy Cadillac shares its underpinnings with various Chevrolet and GMC models, but its style and interior design sets this model apart from the pack.

AutoPacific Survey Says

Other surveys worth considering include the J.D. Power US Vehicle Dependability Study as well as the New & Used Car Reviews & Ratings from Consumer Reports.

The J.D. Power survey examines issues reported by original owners of 3-year-old vehicles, particularly over the past 12 months. It presents a good measurement of vehicle quality during a timeframe when initial problems begin to first appear.

Consumer Reports survey includes road test results and safety information as well as reliability and owner satisfaction. CR’s ratings are based on surveys of millions of their subscribers. CR is owned by the non-profit Consumers Union, an organization that rates more than 5,000 consumer products each year, including household items.

Tesla and Kia photos courtesy the respective manufacturer. Cadillac Escalade photo copyright Auto Trends Magazine.

December Sales Momentum May Mean Record Sales

December 17, 2015 by admin 1 Comment

2015 is on pace to set a new, all-time sales record in the United States. Retail and fleet light-vehicle sales are coming in strong as the year moves to a close.

December is shaping up as yet another strong month for auto sales. Mild weather across much of the country has been helping as well as continued low interest rates on consumer loans despite a recent, but nominal increase in lending rates. If the sales pace continues unabated, 2015 will go down as the best year ever for US sales, breaking the previous record established in 2000.

Those are the findings of a forecast developed jointly by LMC Automotive and J.D. Power. LMC is a noted supplier of automotive trends and intelligence; J.D. Power is a global marketing services company serving multiple fields, including automotive.

Within Reach: 17.5 Million Units

New light-vehicle sales for the month are expected to be the best we have seen for any month since 2005. That should allow U.S. sales to top 17.5 million units, surpassing the previous 17.4 million units reached in 2000. Retail sales (consumer or non-fleet) are expected to total 14.3 million units, representing the fourth best year in history.

Two more factors are also weighing in this year: December has five selling weekends, the first time since 2012, and will also have 28 selling days, the most since 2009. The selling days include the first few days of the new year as 2015 calendar year sales will include sales made through Jan. 4, 2016.

“As 2015 comes to a close, the industry is expected to post its strongest sales month of the year,” said John Humphrey, senior vice president of the global automotive practice at J.D. Power. “With continued record transaction prices, consumers are on pace to spend more than $44 billion on new vehicles in December and $437 billion on new vehicles in 2015, both record levels.” The previous record of $407 billion in annual consumer expenditure was set in 2014.

Humphrey also addressed the recent 0.25 percent increase in the Federal Reserve’s interest rate stating that it “…should have minimal impact on new-vehicle sales.”

Strong Fleet Sales

Fleet sales have been strong this year and have been making a significant contribution to this year’s sales pace. Data reveals that fleet sales were much stronger than expected in November, accounting for 19.5 percent of all light-duty vehicle sales. This month, that contribution is expected to drop to 18.2 percent.

LMC remains bullish on 2016 U.S. auto sales. The company has forecast 17.8 million total light-duty vehicle units, including 14.6 million retail sales. That forecast aligns with what other experts have been saying.

Stated Jeff Schuster, senior vice president of forecasting at LMC Automotive, “We now have greater confidence that record sales in 2015 will lead to yet another volume record in 2016. The year-over-year growth rate is projected to be one-third of the growth experienced in 2015, but total and retail light-vehicle sales are at a 2% increase in 2016, keeping the expansion going.”

Extensive Research Can Save You Money

For consumers shopping for a new vehicle, extensive research, including visits to dealer websites can save them money. Most new vehicles sell for hundreds to thousands of dollars below the window sticker price with greater savings achieved through aggressive negotiation. Arranging your own financing and taking manufacturer and dealer discounts instead can lower your overall costs.

Brand APEAL: Porsche Leads for 11th Consecutive Year

July 23, 2015 by admin Leave a Comment

Porsche is globally recognized as the top automotive brand, a fact regularly affirmed by various consumer studies and surveys. Indeed, for the 11th consecutive year, Porsche finished on top of J.D. Power’s APEAL study for 2015.

Porsche Cayman.

APEAL stands for U.S. Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout study what looks at 77 vehicle attributes to determine what owners like and dislike about their new cars. Those attributes are comprised of categories including the design, content, layout, execution, and performance of the respective models.

For 2015, J.D. Power surveyed more than 84,000 new car buyers from February to May, in a bid to determine how buyers and lessees felt about their vehicles after 90 days of ownership. Power uses a 1,000-point scale and assigns a number to each model as well as an overall score for the make or brand.

This year, the average score has risen by four points to 798. Safety features contributed to the increase, including blind spot monitoring and warning systems. Both premium and mainstream brands are benefiting with the latter group closing the traditional satisfaction void with its high-end counterparts. Further, models equipped with advanced safety systems score an average of 38 points higher than those not so equipped.

Mini Cooper.

“Unlike other technologies, such as voice recognition, that can be challenging to operate, most safety features provide information in a more intuitive way, giving owners a greater sense of security,” said Renee Stephens, vice president of U.S. automotive quality at J.D. Power. “Not only are models increasingly offering systems that improve safety and visibility, but owners are also using them on a regular basis. This can go a long way toward generating positive feelings about their vehicle overall.”

Power also found that consumers will happily pay more for certain safety features such as blind-spot warning and detection systems. That’s one perquisite consumers say that they’d be willing to pay as much as $750 to receive. Clearly, car manufacturers will hone their attention on that revelation.

Porsche led all comers with a score of 874 followed by 855 for Jaguar, 854 for BMW, 853 for Mercedes-Benz, and 852 for Audi. Porsche also had three of the top models in the 26 segments featured. Indeed, the Porsche Cayman led the Compact Premium Sporty Car category, the Porsche Macan took the Compact Premium SUV segment, and the Porsche Cayenne led the Midsize Premium SUV group.

Ford F-150

Ford F-150.

Among mainstream brands Mini placed first, finishing with a score of 825. Chevrolet and Ford, like Porsche, each had three segment leaders. Audi, BMW, Dodge, Mazda and Mini placed two group leaders each.

Once again, J.D. Power reaffirmed a problem that has plagued new car buyers in recent years: how to work the advanced technologies found in today’s cars. Frustration with those technologies will often impact model and brand scores, something Power says can be overcome at the dealer level.

Specifically, the research firm offered advice for consumers, including discovering the benefits of safety features before opting for them. However, in many cases, these features are standard or are included with particular trim level or package offerings.

Consumers should also familiarize themselves with the entire safety package, not just the items they think they will use. Power also urged consumers to keep track of the technological features that are of most interest to consumers, including those still needing to be perfected. The last tip points to a problem inherent in many vehicles — wonky GPS-based infotainment systems that can be difficult to decipher.

Like some of the other studies offered in recent years, the APEAL study indicates manufacturers are listening to consumer concerns and are actively keeping up with the latest auto trends, especially safety and in-cabin technologies. Some brands, such as Jaguar and Mini, have made much progress in recent years, reflecting positive changes to company culture that are in prevalence today.

Photos copyright Auto Trends Magazine.

Kia, Hyundai Star in 2015 J.D. Power Survey

June 23, 2015 by admin 3 Comments

The Dodge Challenger is the top-ranked midsize sporty car.

It wasn’t much more than a decade ago when Hyundai and Kia models were the butt of jokes. Kia especially was held in derision, as models such as its Spectra and Sephia were readily dismissed by critics.

Well, a funny thing happened early in the new millennium — both Korean makes began to raise their quality levels and produce cars that people wanted. Perhaps the model that showcased how quickly these manufacturers could make improvements was when the 2011 Hyundai Sonata, a midsize sedan, was released. The model incorporated exotic styling, an exquisite interior and did so at a price that beat its competitors.

At the same time Hyundai was making its own improvements, Kia followed. Indeed, as soon as a new Hyundai platform was introduced, Kia applied its own design as both brands serve as bookends to the labyrinthine Hyundai Kia Automobile Group. Furthermore, some argue that the Optima is the better looking of the two midsize sedans. In any case, both brands have attracted millions of new customers, propelling the automotive group to the fourth largest in the world.

Porsche, Kia Attract Attention

Kia and Hyundai’s ascendancy in the automobile world has also been confirmed by J.D. Power, the global market research company. Last week, the company released its 2015 U.S. Initial Quality Study (IQS) and once again Porsche finished on top. But Kia at No. 2 and Hyundai at No. 4 bested every mainstream brand. Luxury makes Jaguar and Infiniti nabbed the third and fifth positions.

J.D. Power surveyed more than 84,000 new car owners and asked them to report problems with their vehicles. Those numbers are then tallied and meshed to create a score based on the number of problems per 100 vehicles (PP100).

The industry average is PP112; Porsche led by scoring an 80 followed by Kia (86), Jaguar (93), Hyundai (95), and Infiniti (97).

The Porsche 911 is the top ranked midsize premium sporty car.

A Rising Industry Average

Last year, the industry average was PP116 and Porsche scored a 74 and was followed by Jaguar (87), Lexus and Hyundai (94), and Toyota (105). While Hyundai’s score was virtually unchanged, Kia rose by 20 points from 106.

The Korean brands now have the highest initial quality standings of all brands by market, with a score of PP90. Notably, the European brands passed the Japanese brands for the first time, with a score of PP113. The Japanese brands and the domestics were tied at PP114. Moreover, this is the first time in 29 years of surveys that the Japanese brands collectively performed below the industry average.

Renee Stephens, vice president of U.S. automotive quality at J.D. Power explained that a clear shift in quality leadership is taking place, with the Japanese brands no longer the gold standard. Said Stephens, “While the Japanese automakers continue to make improvements, we’re seeing other brands, most notably Korean makes really accelerating the rate of improvement. Leading companies are not only stepping up the pace of improvements on existing models, but are also working up from to launch vehicles with higher quality and more intuitive designs.”

The highest ranked mainstream full-size model is the Chrysler 300.

Category Leadership, Manufacturing Plant Awards

Four manufacturers — General Motors, Hyundai/Kia, Nissan and Volkswagen — each had four models lead in their respective categories. BMW and Toyota tied with three, Fiat Chrysler and Ford had two apiece, and Mazda had one model.

J.D. Power also recognizes manufacturing plants around the world for quality standards. The company said that BMW’s Rosslyn, South Africa plant, maker of the 3 Series, produces models with the fewest defects or malfunctions. Thus, it garnered Powers’ Platinum Plant Quality Award.

A Toyota plant in Cambridge, Ontario that produces the Toyota Corolla and a Kia plant — Kwangju Plant 1, maker of the Kia Soul, both won regional Gold Plant Quality Awards.

The Hyundai Sonata is an industry and segment leader.

Technology Woes Continue

One area continues to dog most manufacturers and that is technology. Entertainment and connectivity systems are still problem plagued and this was the third consecutive year that this particular complaint topped all others. Voice recognition and Bluetooth connectivity were two standout problems that customers noted.

See Also — Thin SUV Line is Hurting Hyundai

NADA Used Car Guide Heads to J.D. Power

June 1, 2015 by admin 1 Comment

A renowned publication is expected to move from NADA to J.D. Power early in the second half of 2015. The NADA Used Car Guide is the oldest and most prestigious resource for used vehicle valuation on the market.

There is a very good chance that if you ever wanted to find the value of a used vehicle, you turned to the NADA Used Car Guide. That guide, developed by the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA), has served dealers and consumers for 82 years.

Indeed, the NADA Used Car Guide remains the leading source for vehicle valuation, although Kelley Blue Book and Edmunds.com are among the other sources to consider. Late last month, J.D. Power, a global marketing information services company, announced an agreement with NADA to acquire the guide.

NADA Used Car Guide

Nada Used Car Guide Following legal review, the deal is expected to close within the July to September timeframe. Notably, the company plans to retain its McLean, Virginia, headquarters from which it services more than 100,000 customers, including insurers, financial institutions, retailers and software providers.

The NADA Used Car Guide will be compartmentalized within J.D. Power’s Power Information Network or PIN. Power is owned by McGraw Hill Financial, a financial intelligence company. Additionally, McGraw Hill owns Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, S&P Capital IQ, S&P Dow Jones Indices, Platts, and CRISIL.

“J.D. Power has built its strong brand through analytics, data and its growing benchmark business. Benchmarks are a key to the McGraw Hill Financial business model and the NADA Used Car Guide adds a unique set of valuations, which are used as benchmarks by customers, to the well-respected J.D. Power portfolio,” said Douglas L. Peterson, president and chief executive officer of McGraw Hill Financial. “We see clear opportunities for both revenue and cost synergies as J.D. Power couples NADA Used Car Guide with the real-time automotive capabilities of the Power Information Network® (PIN) to bring value to a broad set of customers. This is another example of McGraw Hill Financial utilizing an attractive tuck-in acquisition to expand the capabilities of the company’s iconic businesses.”

Full Access for NADA Members

Peter Welch, president of NADA, reassured NADA members that they would continue to have access to the Guide as part of their membership benefit. “NADA and J.D. Power will continue to build upon our longstanding alliance by sharing data and insights, and bringing together retailers and leaders from the automakers, suppliers and the media at co-hosted conferences and events, offering thought leadership and solutions directly benefiting the retailer network and overall automotive industry.”

With the NADA Used Car Guide part of PIN, NADA’s customers will have seamless access to new- and used-vehicle prices with information supplied by both companies under the J.D. Power umbrella. Initially, the NADA Used Car Guide name will be retained, then transition to a new name under the J.D. Power brand.

NADA Used Car Guide Origins

For its part, the NADA Used Car Guide has transitioned from exclusively a print publication to mostly an online resource. The Guide was launched in 1922, just five years after the National Automobile Dealers Association was founded, according to NADA’s website.

That year, 30 auto dealers traveled to the District of Columbia to urge Congress not to levy a luxury tax on automobiles, successfully arguing that cars were a necessity, not a luxury. The Guide itself was founded in response to the federal government’s request that NADA study used-car values.

Collaboration and Synergies

NADA and J.D. Power intend to collaborate in a number of areas and will co-host conferences and events to reach retailers, automotive industry manufacturers and suppliers, as well as the media.

See Also — NADA, EPA Craft Energy Partnership

Flummoxed by New Car Technology? You Are Not Alone.

September 2, 2014 by admin 1 Comment

J.D. Power 2014 Multimedia Quality and Satisfaction Study reveals much.

New car owners love their technologies, but only when they work right. Today’s cars offer a varying range of audio, communication, entertainment and navigation (ACEN) systems with hand touches, finger gestures, buttons, knobs and voice commands among the ways that we communicate with our cars.

infotainment system technology

ACEN Systems: Not so Hot Technology

As ideal as the technology is, it may not always work according to promise. Those problems are something that were confirmed in the J.D. Power 2014 Multimedia Quality and Satisfaction Study released last week. The study queried vehicle owners about their experiences and opinion of ACEN systems during their first 90 days of ownership with a focus on quality, design and the features offered.

As is customary with similar J.D. Power surveys, the company assigns a score based on the number of problems per 100 vehicles tested or PP100. The lower the score, the higher the quality. Typically, those scores look at particular makes and models, but with this survey the study returned net results — no manufacturers were identified.

Chevrolet Silverado infotainment system technology

Technology Problems Per 100 Vehicles

For 2014, the problems with built-in voice recognition averaged 8.3 PP100, rising from 7.6 PP100 in 2013. Vehicle owners cited three significant problems with voice recognition communication issues:

1. ACEN doesn’t recognize or misinterprets verbal commands — identified by 63 percent of respondents;

2. ACEN doesn’t recognize or misinterprets names/words — identified by 44 percent of respondents; and

3. ACEN doesn’t recognize or misinterprets numbers — identified by 31percent of respondents.

Customers may experience one, two or all three problems.

ACEN problems have grown in recent years as such systems are adopted by car manufacturers. The problems have eclipsed other vehicle woes including wind noise, Bluetooth connectivity and navigation issues.

Fixable or Not?

Unlike many vehicle problems, voice recognition and device connectivity problems cannot be fixed at the dealer level. They represent a technological design that may or may not be repairable with a software upgrade. Instead, vehicle owners may have to make do with the shortcomings or find alternate use options such as buttons and knobs. That’s the advice of Mike VanNieuwkuyk, executive director of global automotive at J.D. Power, who confirmed, “Despite having alternative controls, this problem still negatively impacts owner satisfaction.”

VanNieuwkuyk noted that manufacturers continue to build voice recognition and connectivity systems that fall short of customer expectations. The poor results follow good manufacturer intentions, but does little to promote owner satisfaction.

Bluetooth Connectivity Issues

J.D. Power found that Bluetooth connectivity problems loom large for many buyers, although the study revealed an improvement in quality based on a score of 5.7 PP100, down from 6.3 PP100 the previous year. The two largest connectivity problems were the system’s inability to recognize or connect the mobile phone or device, a problem in 40 percent of the complaints. Another 30 percent cited problems with automatically connecting when entering the vehicle. Just over half of the owners said that they have iPhone OS smart phones; 41 percent reportedly use an Android phone.

Troubles aside, 70 percent of new-vehicle owners are interested in built-in recognition. That number falls to 44 percent if the system costs at least $500. Thus, building an affordable and working system may help manufacturers win new customers.

J.D. Power surveyed 86,114 new car owners between Feb. and May 2014, with a focus on navigation, voice recognition, rear-seat entertainment and speakers. Respondents were also supplied with sourcing information to enable owners to review data and parse information about individual products and components.

Other Studies

J.D. Power: Powertrain Problems Impact Quality

J.D. Power: Porsche is the Top Brand for Initial Quality

Photos copyright Auto Trends Magazine.

J.D. Power: Porsche is the Top Brand for Initial Quality

June 18, 2014 by admin Leave a Comment

Results from the 2014 Initial Quality Study (IQS) are in.

One of the more significant measurements of consumer satisfaction with their new vehicles is the annual J.D. Power Initial Quality Study (IQS). The IQS takes a look at the problems owners experience with their new vehicles during the first 90 days of ownership, specifically the number of problems experienced per 100 vehicles (PP100). The lower the score, the higher the quality.

Porsche Leads the Pack

For the second consecutive year the Porsche brand finished on top with a score of PP74 to show for it. The average score for all brands came in at PP116. Following Porsche were Jaguar at PP87, Lexus at PP92, Hyundai at PP94 and Toyota at PP105. Eighteen brands finished even or above the industry average; 14 finished below average.

Fiat at PP206 had by far the worst score followed by Jeep at PP146, Mitsubishi at PP145, Scion at PP140 and Mazda at PP139. The average industry score rose by 3 points from PP113 as new technologies and hard weather conditions took a toll on customer perceptions.

“Automakers are trying to give consumers the new features and technology they want without introducing additional quality problems into their vehicles,” said David Sargent, vice president of global automotive at J.D. Power. “However, almost all automakers are struggling to do this flawlessly with some consumers indicating that the technology is hard to understand, difficult to use, or simply does not always work as designed.”

Weather Conditions and Initial Quality

Harsh weather can take its toll on customer perceptions too especially when heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems, engines and transmissions, are taxed by weather extremes. That was evident this year as much of the eastern half of the United States endured an especially challenging winter.

Even so, automakers do test their vehicles to ensure that they function properly during a variety of climates conditions noted Sargent. Yet, he went on to note that it is “…impossible to completely negate the effects of severe weather,” with those systems as well as paint and exterior moldings affected.

Initial Quality and Owner Loyalty

What is always of interest to car manufacturers is the correlation between vehicle problems and brand loyalty. Now in its 28th year, the IQS reveals that 57 percent of owners who report no problems stay with the brand. If a single problem is found, that loyalty drops to 53 percent, falling to 48 percent for owners who experience two or more problems.

The IQS also looks at models by segment or category. For the 2014 IQS, General Motors had the most winners, six, followed by Hyundai-Kia with five. Ford took top segment honors with four models, the Volkswagen Group and Nissan had three apiece, followed by Chrysler and Mazda with two each. Honda and Lexus each had one.

IQS Assembly Plants

The IQS also looks at plant assembly line quality. The Toyota Motor Corporation’s Cambridge South, Ontario, Canada (TMMC) plant, producer of the Lexus RX, received the Platinum Plant Quality Award. That award is bestowed on the facility that produces models that yield the fewest defects or malfunctions. J.D. Power says that plant quality awards are based solely on defects and malfunctions, and exclude design-related problems. The IQS also recognized a pair of Toyota plants in Japan — Kyushu 1 and Kyushu 2 as well as the Porsche plant in Leipzig, Germany.

This years’s study was conducted in February and May 2014, surveying more than 86,000 new and leased vehicle owners. It represents a 233-question battery, designed to help manufacturers identify problems and find solutions in a bid to improve quality.

Young Car Buyers Eager to Own New

January 30, 2014 by admin 3 Comments

Good news for car manufacturers.

For the second time within a week, a survey has revealed that young car buyers are ready to get into the new car game and buy one. Thats the findings of the J.D. Power 2014 U.S. Automotive Media and Marketing Report, based on a survey of consumers 25 years old and younger.

Young Consumers Want Cars

young driver The J.D. Power report aligns with the findings of a report from Deloitte. Like the earlier report, J.D. Power found that consumers do want to buy new cars, essentially refuting the assertion by some that young adults are much less interested in owning a car, particularly a new one.

And it isn’t just any vehicle that young buyers want. Powerful acceleration and responsive handing is desired by 41 percent of young car buyers compared with 36 percent for the general population. They also prefer to drive on roads with hills and curves, with 22 percent expressing their interest compared with 13 percent of all car buyers.

Image is Important

One-third of these consumers want their vehicles to stand out in a crowd, compared to 20 percent for all car buyers. Further, 19 percent of car buyers say that others can tell a lot about them by the vehicle they choose. That compares with 10 percent of all car buyers.

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that young buyers want to personalize their vehicles too. A full 27 percent are inclined to go with options and accessories compared to 20 percent for all ages.

One Million Consumers

Arianne Walker, senior director, automotive media & marketing at J.D. Power noted that young consumers have expressed increased interest in these attitudes and sentiments, rising by 6 percent since 2009. These are the points that should be kept in mind by car manufacturers as buyers under the age of 25 presently account for 6 percent of new vehicle sales. Thats approximately 1 million car buyers in todays market.

That demographic has varying interests in what types of vehicles they’re interested in too. Certainly, B- and C-segment models such as the subcompact Ford Fiesta and the compact Toyota Corolla are considerations. More affluent buyers are also gravitating toward the premium and luxury brands, and would consider a Buick Regal or an Audi A3 instead. Serving up a variety of vehicles to this age group can help manufacturers win new customers.

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