BANGKOK (MMD Newswire) November 30, 2010 -- Overall new-vehicle quality in Thailand has improved from 2009, with problems decreasing in all categories and most notably with the vehicle exterior, according to the J.D. Power Asia Pacific 2010 Thailand Initial Quality StudySM (IQS) released today.
The study, which measures problems customers experience with their new vehicle during the first two to six months of ownership, examines more than 200 problem symptoms covering eight categories. These categories, listed in order of frequency of reported problems, include: vehicle exterior; driving experience; engine and transmission; HVAC; features, controls and displays; audio, entertainment and navigation; vehicle interior; and seats. Overall quality performance is determined by the problems experienced per 100 vehicles (PP100), with a lower score reflecting higher quality.
Overall initial quality averages 106 PP100 in 2010, which represents an improvement of 27 PP100 from 2009.
"Initial vehicle quality has been improving steadily in Thailand during recent years, as manufacturers continue to invest in research and production facilities," said Loic Pean, senior manager at J.D. Power Asia Pacific, Thailand. "While this has been helpful in renewing confidence in Thailand's auto production hub, from a consumer standpoint, key quality issues haven't changed much from previous years. Excessive wind noise remains the most bothersome problem for vehicle owners in Thailand, regardless of the type of vehicle."
In addition to excessive wind noise, moldy or stale-smelling air from vents and front doors that are difficult to open or close are the three vehicle problems reported most frequently by owners.
Model Results by Segment
In the entry midsize car segment, the Honda City ranks highest with 99 PP100. The Toyota Yaris (106 PP100) and the Nissan Tiida (114 PP100) follow in the segment rankings.
The Mazda3 (89 PP100) ranks highest in the midsize car segment for a fourth consecutive year. The Mazda3 is followed in the segment rankings by the Honda Civic (110 PP100) and the Toyota Corolla Altis (122 PP100).
The Nissan Teana ranks highest in the premium midsize car segment with 72 PP100. The Toyota Camry and the Camry Hybrid tie for second place in the segment, each with a score of 79 PP100.
In the SUV segment, the Honda CR-V ranks highest for a fourth consecutive year with a score of 61 PP100. The Chevrolet Captiva (92 PP100) and the Isuzu MU-7 (98 PP100) follow in the segment rankings.
In the extended cab pickup segment, the Toyota Hilux Vigo Prerunner Smart Cab ranks highest for a second consecutive year with 88 PP100. Closely following in the segment rankings is the Isuzu D-Max Hi-Lander (89 PP100). The Isuzu D-Max Spacecab/Rodeo ranks third in the segment with 95 PP100.
In the double cab pickup segment, the Toyota Hilux Vigo (81 PP100) ranks highest. The Mitsubishi Triton Plus ranks second with 91 PP100, while the Isuzu D-Max Hi-Lander ranks third (113 PP100).
Additional Industry Findings
The study finds that owners who say they are "pleased" or "delighted" (providing ratings of eight to 10 on a 10-point scale) with their overall vehicle quality expect to keep their vehicle more than one year longer, on average, than owners who say they are "indifferent" or "disappointed" (providing ratings of one to seven on a 10-point scale). Similarly, among owners who are "pleased" or "delighted" with the quality of their vehicle, nearly 20 percent more indicate they "definitely would" repurchase the same make, compared with owners who are "indifferent" or "disappointed."
"Initial vehicle quality shapes the perceptions owners have about their vehicle brand and may permanently impact brand loyalty," said Pean. "Owners who have a satisfactory initial experience with the quality of their new vehicle are not only likely to keep their vehicle longer-which may potentially generate more revenue for authorized service facilities-but are also more likely to replace it with another vehicle of the same make in the future."
The 2010 Thailand Initial Quality Study is based on evaluations from 3,664 owners who purchased their new vehicle between October 2009 and June 2010. The study includes 61 different passenger car, pickup truck and utility vehicle models covering 12 different makes. The study was fielded between April and August 2010.
About J.D. Power Asia Pacific
J.D. Power Asia Pacific has offices in Tokyo, Singapore, Beijing, Shanghai and Bangkok that conduct customer satisfaction research and provide performance analytics services in the automotive, information technology and finance industries. Together, the five offices bring the language of customer satisfaction to consumers and businesses in China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. Information regarding J.D. Power Asia Pacific and its products can be accessed through the Internet at www.jdpower.com.
About J.D. Power and Associates
Headquartered in Westlake Village, Calif., J.D. Power and Associates is a global marketing information services company operating in key business sectors including market research, forecasting, performance improvement, Web intelligence and customer satisfaction. The company's quality and satisfaction measurements are based on responses from millions of consumers annually. J.D. Power and Associates is a business unit of The McGraw-Hill Companies.
About The McGraw-Hill Companies
Founded in 1888, The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE: MHP) is a global information and education company providing knowledge, insights and analysis in the financial, education and business information sectors through leading brands including Standard & Poor's, McGraw-Hill Education, Platts, and J.D. Power and Associates. The Corporation has more than 280 offices in 40 countries. Sales in 2009 were $5.95 billion. Additional information is available at http://www.mcgraw-hill.com/.
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