TRUE STUDY : PERODUA, HONDA And TOYOTA Vehicle Models Each Rank Highest In MALAYSIA Initial Quality

J.D. Power Asia Pacific Reports For KDI:

Perodua, Honda and Toyota Vehicle Models Each Rank Highest In Malaysia Initial Quality
For a Second Consecutive Year

SINGAPORE: 30 September 2008—The Perodua Myvi, Honda City, Honda Civic and Toyota Innova each rank highest in initial quality in Malaysia in their respective segments, according to the J.D. Power Asia Pacific 2008 Malaysia Initial Quality StudySM (IQS) released today.

The study, now in its second year since being redesigned in 2007, examines new vehicle quality during the first two to six months of ownership. The study measures more than 200 problem symptoms covering eight vehicle components: vehicle exterior; driving experience; features/controls/displays; audio/entertainment/navigation; seats; HVAC; vehicle interior; and engine/transmission. All problems are summarized as the number of problems reported per 100 vehicles (PP100), with lower scores indicating a lower rate of problem incidence and higher quality.

Model Results by Segment

The Perodua Myvi ranks highest in the compact car segment for a second consecutive year with 104 PP100, followed by the Perodua Kenari (132 PP100) and the Perodua Viva (152 PP100).

The Honda City ranks highest in the entry midsize car segment for a second consecutive year with 112 PP100. Two redesigned models—the Toyota Vios (145 PP100) and the Proton Saga (210 PP100)—rank second and third, respectively, in this segment.

In the midsize car segment, the Honda Civic ranks highest for a second consecutive year with 101 PP100. The Nissan Sentra (135 PP100) and the Proton Waja (154 PP100) follow the Honda Civic in the rankings.

The Toyota Innova leads the MPV/van segment with 126 PP100, followed by the Toyota Avanza (133 PP100). The Nissan Grand Livina, which was launched at the end of 2007, achieves the third rank position in the MPV/van segment with 175 PP100.

Industry Findings

The study finds that initial quality for new vehicles in Malaysia averages 158 PP100 in 2008, marking a 12 PP100 increase in problems since 2007. Nearly 60 percent of customers report experiencing at least one problem with their new vehicle during the first two to six months of ownership. Vehicle exterior-related problems remain the most frequently reported issue for a second consecutive year, followed by problems related to the driving experience and engine/transmission. These three problem categories together contribute to nearly 60 percent of all customer-reported problems. Among all problem symptoms covered in the study, excessive wind noise remains the problem reported most frequently by customers.

“Providing high levels of new-vehicle quality contributes to increased loyalty and advocacy intentions,” said Taku Kimoto, general manager of the automotive practice at J.D. Power Asia Pacific, Singapore. “Nearly 70 percent of owners who say they are ‘delighted’ with the quality of their vehicle report that they ‘definitely would’ recommend the model to a friend or relative. In comparison, only 18 percent of owners who say they are ‘disappointed’ or ‘indifferent’ say the same. Improving vehicle quality is absolutely critical for automotive manufacturers to generate positive word of mouth for their brand and vehicle models.”

The 2008 Malaysia IQS is based on evaluations from approximately 3,200 owners who purchased their new vehicle between September 2007 and May 2008. Vehicles evaluated included 52 passenger car, pickup and utility vehicle models covering 15 different brands. The study was fielded between March and July 2008.

The Malaysia Initial Quality Study is one of three consumer-based studies that J.D. Power Asia Pacific conducts in Malaysia. The 2008 Malaysia Customer Satisfaction Index (CSI) Study, which measures customer satisfaction with authorized dealer after-sales service, was released in July 2008. The 2008 Malaysia Sales Satisfaction Index (SSI) Study, which examines new-vehicle buyer satisfaction with the sales and delivery experience, was released in August 2008. 

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