J.D. Power and Associates Reports: Influx of New-Vehicle Models and Nameplates Leads to Intensifying Competition for Vehicle Ownership Satisfaction in Mexico

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif., Sept. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Eight different brands representing U.S., European and Japanese automakers rank highest in their respective vehicle segments, according to the 2007 Mexico Vehicle Ownership Satisfaction Study(SM) released today.

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The study, now in its fourth year, objectively measures new-vehicle ownership satisfaction with 2006 model-year vehicles in Mexico. Overall satisfaction is determined by measuring customer experiences in four areas: vehicle quality and reliability; vehicle appeal (satisfaction with the design, style, performance and comfort of the vehicle); dealership service (satisfaction with the dealer service department); and ownership costs. The study measures satisfaction in nine vehicle segments, including three new segments for 2007: Entry Premium Car, Entry Pickup and Full-Size Pickup. The highest-ranking models by segment are:

Entry Sub-Compact Car: Nissan Tsuru Upper Sub-Compact Car: Toyota Yaris Compact Car: BMW 1 Series Midsize Car: Volvo S40 Entry Premium Car: Mercedes-Benz C-Class Entry SUV: Mitsubishi Outlander Minivan: Toyota Sienna (receives award for a second consecutive year) Entry Pickup: Ford Ranger Full-Size Pickup: Dodge Ram Pickup LD

"A wide variety of brands demonstrate the ability to design and build vehicles that effectively meet the needs and wants of new-vehicle buyers in Mexico," said Neal Oddes, director of product research and analysis at J.D. Power and Associates. "This high level of competition clearly benefits consumers in Mexico, who have a wide choice of satisfying vehicles at various price levels."

As competition in the Mexico new-vehicle market intensifies, the BMW, HUMMER and Mercedes-Benz nameplates perform particularly well in satisfying new-vehicle owners. This is the first year that the HUMMER nameplate has been included in the study.

"An unprecedented number of all-new models have entered the competitive landscape in 2007, as well as four new nameplates: HUMMER, Mazda, MINI and Suzuki," said Oddes. "Typically, all-new vehicle models and nameplates perform particularly well in their first year, and this continues to hold true this year."

The addition of new nameplates and models has increased the already heavy competition in the Mexico market. Twenty-three nameplates and 169 models compete for an average of 1.5 million sales per year, compared with the 36 nameplates and approximately 250 models that compete for an average of 16.5 million sales in the United States.

"As consumer credit becomes more widely available and shoppers become more inclined to perform detailed research before making a vehicle purchase, the need for manufacturers to differentiate themselves becomes more critical," said Oddes.

The most improved nameplates in the study include Chevrolet, Mercedes-Benz and Pontiac.

The 2007 Mexico Vehicle Ownership Satisfaction Study includes responses from 6,010 owners of 2006 model-year vehicles. Respondents were interviewed in six of Mexico's largest auto markets -- Guadalajara, Mexico City, Monterrey, Puebla, Queretaro and Veracruz -- and were asked to evaluate their experiences during the first 6 to 18 months of ownership.

About J.D. Power and Associates

Headquartered in Westlake Village, Calif., J.D. Power and Associates is an ISO 9001-registered global marketing information services firm operating in key business sectors including market research, forecasting, performance improvement, training and customer satisfaction. The firm's quality and satisfaction measurements are based on responses from millions of consumers annually. For more information on car reviews and ratings, car insurance, health insurance, cell phone ratings, and more, please visit JDPower.com. 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 is a leading global information services provider meeting worldwide needs in the financial services, education and business information markets through leading brands such as Standard & Poor's, McGraw-Hill Education, BusinessWeek and J.D. Power and Associates. The Corporation has more than 280 offices in 40 countries. Sales in 2006 were $6.3 billion. Additional information is available at http://www.mcgraw-hill.com/.

J.D. Power and Associates Media Relations Contacts: John Tews Syvetril Perryman Troy, Mich. Westlake Village, Calif. (248) 312-4119 (805) 418-8103 john.tews@jdpa.com syvetril.perryman@jdpa.com

No advertising or other promotional use can be made of the information in this release without the express prior written consent of J.D. Power and Associates. http://www.jdpower.com/corporate

Top Three Models per Segment Entry Sub-Compact Car Highest Ranked: Nissan Tsuru Dodge Atos Pontiac Matiz Upper Sub-Compact Car Highest Ranked: Toyota Yaris Honda Fit Dodge Attitude Compact Car Highest Ranked: BMW 1 Series Toyota Corolla Mazda Mazda3 Midsize Car Highest Ranked: Volvo S40 Honda Accord Nissan Altima Entry Premium Car Highest Ranked: Mercedes-Benz C-Class BMW 3 Series Audi A4 Entry SUV Highest Ranked: Mitsubishi Outlander Honda CR-V Nissan X-Trail Minivan Highest Ranked: Toyota Sienna Honda Odyssey Ford Freestar Entry Pickup Truck Highest Ranked: Ford Ranger Dodge Dakota Chevrolet Tornado Full-Size Pickup Truck Highest Ranked: Dodge Ram Pickup LD Ford F-Series LD Chevrolet Silverado LD

Available Topic Expert(s): For information on the listed expert(s), click appropriate link. Neal Oddes http://profnet.prnewswire.com/Subscriber/ExpertProfile.aspx?ei=58144