J.D. Power has released its latest findings on vehicle ownership in India, and it’s a bit alarming. The recent study by the organisation says that longer-term vehicle dependability in the country has declined this year. 56 per cent of new-vehicle owners are experiencing at least one problem with their vehicles over last year’s data of 53 per cent, says the J.D. Power 2017 India Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS).
According to J.D. Power, the overall vehicle dependability in India currently averages 189 problems per 100 vehicles (PP100), up from 185 PP100 in 2016, meaning a higher number of problems are reported by owners. The study also finds that owner-reported problems increase significantly once the vehicle's clocked over 40,000 kilometres. The survey shows that owners of vehicles that have been driven for more than 40,000km reports an average of 73 more problems per 100 vehicles than owners with vehicles that have been driven less than 40,000km. In the report, it’s found that vehicle exterior and driving experience account for more problems than other categories. This means that owners faced problems relating to uneven tyre wear, noise from doors and bumpers along with exterior corrosion in their vehicles once the odometer went past 40,000km mark.
Commenting on the findings from the survey, Shantanu Nandi Majumdar, Director at J.D. Power, said: “In addition to usage, varying road and weather conditions affect the longer-term dependability of vehicles in India. After about three years of ownership, problems related to squeaks and rattles are typically reported which is likely to impact overall build quality perceptions. Automakers that are able to identify such problems related to extended use—and resolve them at the manufacturing stage—are likely to be able to provide a more positive ownership experience for their customers.”
Additionally, J.D Power’s recent report also finds that diesel vehicles deteriorate more after 40,000km in comparison to petrol vehicles. Diesel vehicles driven for over 40,000km are more likely to have parts and components replaced as compared to petrol vehicles covering the same mileage (67 per cent vs. 58 per cent).
The study included 74 models across 12 vehicle segments - MUV/ MPV, SUV, premium SUV, van, entry compact, compact, upper compact; premium compact, entry midsize, midsize, premium midsize, and luxury. In the compact segment, the Hyundai i10 with 132 PP100 ranked highest with the least number of problems while its bigger brother, i20 (162 PP100) led the premium compact segment. Honda’s Brio (131 PP100) and City (132 PP100) ranked highest in the upper compact and midsize segments, respectively. Toyota Etios (125 PP100) and Toyota Innova (128 PP100) were found be the best in the entry midsize and MUV/ MPV segments, respectively. In the entry compact segment, the Maruti Suzuki Alto 800 (197 PP100) emerged on top, ahead of other rivals. The Ford Ecosport (169 PP100) ranked highest in the SUV segment.
The additional findings of the 2017 J.D. Power survey suggest that the incidence of repairs for unexpected problems in 2017 is 22 per cent, the lowest level since 2013. Also, more customers are now opting for extended warranty plans – it’s up from 27 per cent to 38 per cent this year. It’s gone even higher for first-time vehicle buyers – 44 per cent in 2017 over 31 per cent in 2016.
As per the study, longer-term vehicle dependability also makes customers loyalists to the brand. Over 74 per cent of buyers, who haven’t faced problems with their vehicles, say they “definitely would” recommend their current model to others, while 53% say they “definitely would” repurchase their current make.
Also read: Vehicle dependability improves in India in 2016 – JD Power
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