J.D. Power Asia Pacific, a company that surveys customer satisfaction to provide a transparent and true insight in the consumer industry, has recently announced Volkswagen Vento as the highest ranked Midsize Car through its Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) study. The 2013 India APEAL Study was based on responses from 9,069 owners who purchased a new vehicle between November 2012 and July 2013. The study was fielded between May and September 2013 in 25 cities across India gauging the customer satisfaction.
The study is based on 10 performance factors which include vehicle exterior; vehicle interior; storage and space; audio/entertainment/navigation; seats, heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC); driving dynamics; engine/transmission; visibility and driving safety; and fuel economy.
The Volkswagen Vento took the first rank in the midsize car segment with an index score of 859 points on a 1000-points scale. The segment had an average of 853 points. Amongst the Premium Compact Cars, Volkswagen Polo ranked second with an index score of 855 points, which also happens to be above the segment-average score of 853. The average APEAL score across all segments surveyed was 845 points.
The Volkswagen Vento has been in the Indian market since 2010 and was specifically designed for India. Manufactured at the Volkswagen Pune Plant in Chakan, the Vento carries the Volkswagen DNA of German Engineering which is innovative technology, safety, driving dynamics and quality.
Speaking on the occasion of J.D. Power Asia Pacific 2013 Awards, Mr. Mahesh Kodumudi, Volkswagen Group India Chief Representative and President & Managing Director, Volkswagen India Private Limited, commented, “Volkswagen is synonymous with German engineering and quality. Through the J.D. Power APEAL Study, it only gets clear how our emphasis on each and every aspect of the engineering of our cars translates into highest level of customers’ satisfaction. We are constantly taking feedback from our consumers and implementing them in our products to make sure that our customers get nothing but the best.”
About Volkswagen Group India: With its headquarters in Pune, Maharashtra, the Volkswagen Group is represented by five brands in India: Audi, Lamborghini, Porsche, ŠKODA, and Volkswagen. The Volkswagen Group has been present in India for the last 12 years and began its India journey with the entry of the ŠKODA brand in 2001, Audi brand and Volkswagen brand in 2007, Porsche brand and Lamborghini brand in 2012. Each brand has its own character and operates as an independent entity in the market. Volkswagen Group India has over 25 models in India and 262 dealerships and is operating through two plants – Pune and Aurangabad. The Pune plant has a manufacturing capacity of 1,30,000 cars per year and is currently manufacturing Volkswagen Polo and Vento and ŠKODA Fabia and Rapid. The Aurangabad plant caters to various premium and luxury models of Audi, ŠKODA and Volkswagen sold in India and has an annual capacity of approximately 89,000. Volkswagen Group India is a part of Volkswagen AG, which is globally represented by 12 brands - Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Ducati, Lamborghini,
Porsche, Scania, SEAT, ŠKODA, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles (Volkswagen Nutzfahrzeuge), MAN and Volkswagen Passenger Cars.