Daihatsu Move Ranks Highest in Appeal among Mini-Car Owners in Japan

J.D. Power Asia Pacific Reports: 2007 Japan Mini-Car APEAL Study

TOKYO: 10 October 2007 — The Daihatsu Move is the most appealing mini-car model in Japan, according to the J.D. Power Asia Pacific 2007 Japan Mini-Car Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) StudySM released today.

The study, now in its seventh year, measures an important dimension of mini-car owner satisfaction by identifying what excites and delights owners about their vehicle’s performance and design. The overall APEAL Index score is based on consumer evaluations in 10 factors of vehicle performance and design. They are: vehicle exterior; vehicle interior; storage and space; sound/entertainment/navigation system; seats; heating, ventilation and cooling; driving performance; engine/transmission; fuel efficiency; and visibility and driving safety. The study has been revised in 2007 to include items related to new technology.

Among the 12 ranked mini-car models, the Daihatsu Move ranks highest with a score of 709 on a 1,000-point scale. The Move performs particularly well in vehicle interior; driving performance; engine/transmission; and seats.

The Mitsubishi i and Daihatsu Tonto follow the Daihatsu Move with scores of 697 and 692, respectively. Also performing above the industry average are the Suzuki MR Wagon, Honda Zest and Nissan Moco.

“Daihatsu owners tend to cite performance and design aspects as the main reasons for their purchase decisions, rather than pricing or the dealer,” said Satoru Hiraki, manager of the automotive industry group at J.D. Power Asia Pacific. “With appealing models such as the Move and Tanto, it appears that Daihatsu is succeeding in delighting existing customers and winning new customers at the same time. Daihatsu owners display particularly high levels of brand loyalty, and a notably high percentage of new-vehicle buyers switch to Daihatsu from other brands.”

The study finds that vehicle exterior is the most influential factor contributing to mini-car APEAL, followed by categories related to user friendliness, such as visibility and driving safety and storage and space.

The study also finds that four models included in the 2007 study were either brand-new or redesigned. In previous years, new and redesigned models have typically performed well in APEAL rankings. However, only the Daihatsu Move ranks above the industry average among the new and redesigned models in 2007, which may indicate intensifying competition in the mini-car market.

“When launching a new or redesigned model, mini-car manufacturers who pay close attention to meeting and exceeding customer expectations may experience strong gains in customer loyalty,” said Hiraki. “However, if the launch of a new or redesigned model is not strong, the manufacturer may experience deficits in customer satisfaction that may be very difficult to overcome, particularly in such a competitive market.”

The 2007 Japan Mini-Car APEAL Study is based on responses from 3,979 owners who purchased their mini-cars between October 2006 and March 2007. The survey was conducted in May 2007 and covered 42 models from seven manufacturers.

About J.D. Power Asia Pacific
J.D. Power Asia Pacific, established in 1990, conducts customer satisfaction research and provides consulting services in the automotive, information technology and finance industries. Information regarding J.D. Power Asia Pacific and its products can be accessed through the Internet at http://www.jdpower.co.jp/

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. 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 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/.

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. www.jdpower.com/corporate

Source: J.D. Power and Associates

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