From Auto’s to Vodka (now there is one heck of a mix
), in this study, your relationship is “Key”.
Wayne Gerdes -
CleanMPG - Mar. 7, 2011
2011 Hyundai Elantra - < $15K to start and “40 mpg for everyone” is but one of Hyundai’s fantastic products leading to their latest accolade.
Hyundai’s name recognition as not just a top tier auto manufacturer but as a brand force continues to grow in 2011 according to a group called Brand Keys.
The New York based company published their annual Customer Loyalty Engagement Index, a syndicated study that examines customers' relationships with 528 brands in 79 distinct categories. And for the second year in a row, Hyundai earned the No. 1 spot in the automotive category in the 2011 Customer Loyalty Engagement Index.
Customer Loyalty Engagement Index - How it’s done
The sample is made up of men and women 18 to 65 years of age drawn from the nine U.S. Census regions. Respondents (50:50 M/F and an even-age-spread representation) are screened according to category particulars, and then asked to assess the brand for which they have been determined to be a "customer." The screening varies from category to category, but generally respondents fall into the top 20 percent of the customer base. Eighty-five percent of the interviews are conducted via telephone. The remaining 15 percent are collected via central-location intercepts among "cell phone only" respondents.
Robert Passikoff, Brand Keys Founder and President:
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“Hyundai has been able to best meet customer expectations and has, again, scored the highest levels of loyalty when it comes to the Automotive category, taking the #1 spot in our Customer Loyalty Engagement Index.”
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Hyundai’s continuing success can be attributed to the positive reception of the recently redesigned 2011 Sonata and Elantra models, both of which have received significant consumer interest and positive reception since their respective launches. Both these vehicles contributed to Hyundai’s sales success in 2010 as the company sold more than 500,000 vehicles in the US for the first time in its history and increasing market share to almost five percent.
In the company’s 25th year in the U.S., Hyundai was the first auto manufacturer to achieve a sales weighted corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) of 35 mpg (35.2 mpg actual) last month with the longer term goal of being the first automaker to achieve at least 50 mpg by 2025 for its entire lineup of passenger cars and light duty trucks.
Trea Reedy, Hyundai National Manager, Dealer Marketing and Resource Management:
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“With our strong new lineup filled with stylish, fuel efficient and affordable vehicles, both new and returning customers are keeping Hyundai at the top of their shopping lists.”
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Automotive brands rounding out the top 5 in the 2011 Index are:
- Hyundai
- Ford
- Honda/Nissan (tie)
- Mercedes/BMW (tie)
- Kia/GM (tie)
Adding to the articles content, affordability, safety and fuel efficiency comes “standard” at Hyundai.