Market
Penetration of Satellite Radio and Navigation Systems in New Vehicles
Continues to Increase
Alpine Electronics
of America, Denso/Panasonic, Fujitsu Ten Corporation of America and
SANYO Automotive U.S.A. Each Rank Highest in Vehicle Multimedia Quality
in Their Respective Segments
J.D. Power and
Associates Reports:
WESTLAKE VILLAGE,
Calif.: 23 August 2010 — Satellite radio and navigation systems are
becoming increasingly prevalent in new vehicles as consumer interest in
high-tech features continues to grow, according to the J.D. Power and
Associates 2010 U.S. Multimedia Quality and Satisfaction StudySM
released today.
The study finds
that 66 percent of owners indicate having satellite radio capability in
the audio systems of their new vehicles, compared with 59 percent in
2009. In addition, 30 percent of owners indicate their vehicle has a
factory-installed navigation system, up from 25 percent in 2009.
“As high-tech
features become progressively more popular among new-vehicle owners,
it’s important for manufacturers to integrate these features into
vehicles without introducing additional problems,” said Allison LaDuc,
research director of automotive product quality at J.D. Power and
Associates. “While new-vehicle owners tend to be more satisfied when
these features are present, these more complex multimedia systems
present more opportunities for things to go wrong.”
The study evaluates
owner experiences with the quality, design and features of multimedia
systems in their new vehicles. The information from the study is
designed to assist automakers and suppliers with improving the design
and manufacture of audio, entertainment and navigation systems, which
are increasingly important to new-vehicle buyers. Problems are measured
per 100 vehicles (PP100), with a lower PP100 score indicating higher
quality.
Alpine Electronics
ranks highest in the AM/FM/single CD player segment with an overall
PP100 score of 2.8, improving by 2.5 PP100 from 2009. Clarion (3.9
PP100) follows in the rankings, while Fujitsu Ten Corporation of America
and Mitsubishi Electric Automotive America rank third, in a tie, with a
score of 4.1 PP100 each.
In the AM/FM/single
CD player/satellite radio segment, SANYO Automotive U.S.A. ranks highest
with an overall PP100 score of 3.0 PP100. Continental Corporation (3.5
PP100) and Hyundai Mobis (4.1 PP100) follow in the segment rankings.
Fujitsu Ten
Corporation of America ranks highest in the AM/FM/multi-CD
changer/satellite radio segment with 2.1 PP100, improving by 3.4 PP100
from 2009. Pioneer (2.6 PP100) and Clarion (3.4 PP100) follow in the
segment rankings.
The non-competitive
split-sourcing arrangement between Denso and Panasonic Automotive
Systems Company of America ranks highest in the AM/FM/single
CD/satellite radio/navigation segment with an overall PP100 score of
6.4. In this particular split-sourcing arrangement, Panasonic supplies
the audio system and Denso supplies the navigation system.
The study also
finds the following key trends:
Overall sound
system satisfaction has decreased slightly to 7.76 (on a 10-point scale)
from 7.77 in 2009.
The sound system
attribute with the greatest level of satisfaction among new-vehicle
owners is the ability to play music file formats they want, such as MP3
files.
The most-desired
multimedia feature is steering wheel controls for the audio system—84
percent of new-vehicle owners say they want this feature on their next
vehicle.
The 2010 U.S.
Multimedia Quality and Satisfaction Study is based on responses from
more than 82,000 new-vehicle owners who purchased a 2010 model-year
vehicle. The study was fielded between February and May 2010.
Twenty-eight different multimedia permutations are evaluated, which
include different combinations of the following systems: AM/FM radio;
cassette player; single CD player; multiple CD changer; navigation
system; and satellite radio. Multimedia system suppliers are ranked
based on the number of problems experienced per 100 vehicles (PP100) in
four segments: AM/FM/single CD player; AM/FM/single CD player/satellite
radio; AM/FM/multi-CD changer/satellite radio; and AM/FM/single CD
player/satellite radio/navigation.
About J.D. Power
and Associates
Headquartered in Westlake Village, Calif., J.D. Power and Associates is
a global marketing information services company operating in key
business sectors including market research, forecasting, performance
improvement, Web intelligence and customer satisfaction. The company’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 (NYSE: MHP) is a global
information and education company providing knowledge, insights and
analysis in the financial, education and business information sectors
through leading brands including Standard & Poor’s, McGraw-Hill
Education, Platts, and J.D. Power and Associates. The Corporation has
more than 280 offices in 40 countries. Sales in 2009 were $5.95 billion.
Additional information is available at
http://www.mcgraw-hill.com/.
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