Behind The Wheel
- Growing Sub-Prime Auto Loans - New Troubles for Automakers?
- Savings at the Pump Still Supreme for Car Buyers
- GM Says It's Dropping Out of Super Bowl Ad Race
- Two New Models, Two Different Drivers in Mind
- GM Still Likes Its No-Facebook Ad Strategy
- World's Biggest Brands Flex Their Muscles
- A New World Record: 80 Million Vehicles... and Counting
- Is Toyota Back?
- Ford Cuts Summer Idle Time at US Plants, Will GM Follow?
- Auto Stocks Stuck in Neutral
MOST SHARED
- Greece Pours $22.6 Billion Into Four Biggest Banks
- Spain's Borrowing Costs Near Danger Level: Bailout Next?
- Will the Euro Misery Give Rise to Another Soros?
- Greece to Leave Euro Zone on June 18: Wealth Manager
- 5 Spots Where the Dollar Buys a Great Vacation
- European Firms Plan for Greek Unrest and Euro Exit
- Public Pensions Faulted for Bets on Rosy Returns
- Winemaking Lures the Wealthy, But Not With Profits
- Hostage to Headlines
- Citigroup Lost $20 Million on Facebook IPO Trades
- A New Look at the ‘New Poor’
- Six Pack: Beer Buzz of the Week
- Greek Exit Could Trigger 50% Fall in Euro Stocks: Analyst
- Under Pressure, FHA Skews to Wealthier Home Buyers
- Big Stock Upside for Hudson City Deal: Analyst
- 5 High-Yield Stocks Ready to Boost Dividends
- Yoshikami: Four Things You Need to Know About Gold Now
- Steinbock: The Euro Zone Endgame Begins
- Option Bulls Take Another Shot on Idenix
- Spain's Debt Costs Near Danger Level: Is Bailout Next?
- European Companies Plan for Greek Unrest and Euro Exit
- Public Pensions Faulted for Bets on Rosy Returns
- Will the Euro Misery Give Rise to Another Soros?
- Greece to Leave Euro Zone on June 18: Wealth Manager
- Italy 2-Year Borrowing Costs at Peak Since December
- Euro Bond Wins Supporters, but Details Remain Vague
- German, UK Bond Yields Will Go Even Lower
- Labor Board Member Resigns Over Leak to GOP Allies
RSS FEED
New Cars Coming Closer To Giving Us What We Want
Text Size 
CNBC Reporter
 |
AP |
It's the one thing auto execs constantly worry about. Making sure the launch of a new or re-designed model hits the target.
It sounds simple, but historically there are numerous cases where an auto maker puts a new car or truck in showrooms and it falls short of expectations.
Sometimes woefully short.
Lately though, the new or re-designed models are giving customers more of what they want. J.D. Power has released its APEAL (automotive performance execution and layout) study which looks at how well new models deliver what customers want.
The good news: this years APEAL score for all-new and redesigned models averages 790 on a 1,000-point scale. That's 11 points higher than last year and the highest in the three years of the study. Furthermore, the domestic auto makers have closed the gap with foreign competitors. The domestics trail by just five points in the latest survey, compared with 15 points in 2008 and 27 points in 2007.
So why are buyers happier with what they are seeing in showrooms?
Much of it is because new car buyers are more satisfied with the fuel economy of their new ride.
J.D. Power admits some of that satisfaction is due to lower prices at the pump, but the fact more people are buying four cylinder models also plays a role. The growth, and acceptance of more fuel efficient four cylinder engines has picked up in the last two years. The fact that four bangers are no longer pint size econo-boxes helps explain why people like driving four cylinders.
 |
These days the sat nav and entertainment systems in new models are more advanced, better integrated, and easier to use. No wonder new car buyers are happier.
Check out the latest APEAL Study for yourself and see how your favorite model ranked. There's good news in the study for Volkswagen (4 models among the top ranked) but more importantly, there is good news for all auto makers and buyers: the new cars and trucks are doing a better job of giving us what we want.
_____________________________________
Click on Ticker to Track Corporate News:
- Ford Motor [F
Loading...
()
]
- Toyota Motor [TM
Loading...
()
]
- Nissan [NSANY
Loading...
()
]
- Honda Motor [HMC
Loading...
()
]
_____________________________________
Questions? Comments?
Data is a real-time snapshot *Data is delayed at least 15 minutes
