Hyundai is number one, according to the ninth annual study released by the consulting firm J.D. Power and Associates, which surveys the rate that auto brands retain their customers as well ascertaining the reasons for continued customer loyalty.
Hyundai ranked top out of 33 different vehicle brands in 2012 and actually improved its score by four points compared to 2010, the last time J.D. Power and Associates issued its customer retention study.
According to Raffi Festekjian, J.D. Power’s director of automotive product research, “manufacturers need to integrate specific attributes and features that delight vehicle owners to maximize their opportunity to both retain customers and conquests from other brands.” They also need to ensure owners are satisfied with the quality, residual values and ownership costs of their vehicles.
Festekjian, says that: “Hyundai’s increased retention rate is shaped by its expanding model lineup as well as the fact that perceptions of the brand’s quality and appeal have continued to improve during the past decade.”
Behind Hyundai, Ford and Honda were tied jointly for second place in the 2012 J.D. Power Customer Retention Study.
