Consumers Find New Vehicles More Appealing Than Ever, J.D. Power Research Shows

Porsche Ranks Highest for 13th Consecutive Year; AG Receives Six Segment-Level Awards

DETROIT: 26 July 2017 — Car owners’ love affair with new vehicles is stronger than ever, as evidenced by a 9-point increase in the APEAL index from last year—tied for the largest gain ever—according to the J.D. Power 2017 U.S. Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study,SM released today.

In this year’s study, the industry average APEAL index increases to 810 points (on a 1,000-point scale), propelled by significantly better scores in 9 of the 10 categories measured and 19 of the 32 brands in the study making positive gains in their performance, compared with 2016.

“Many automakers are getting better and better at giving consumers what they want in a vehicle,” said Dave Sargent, vice president, global automotive at J.D. Power. “The industry is doing a very good job of creating vehicles customers like across every segment, and the APEAL study identifies why this is. One clear reason is that non-premium vehicles are increasingly offering technology and safety features found in premium vehicles.”

Following are some of the study’s key findings:

 Premium and mass market brands are getting closer. The average APEAL index score for the non-premium segment (804) improves by 10 points year over year, while the premium segment (845) improves by just 1 point. The gap between the two segments has narrowed to an all-time low of 41 points.

 Some vehicles deliver outstanding levels of APEAL as well as IQS. Eight models receiving APEAL segment awards also receive awards in the J.D. Power 2017 U.S. Initial Quality StudySM: BMW 2 Series; Chrysler Pacifica; Cadenza; ; ; Cooper; Porsche 911; and Porsche Macan. The all-new Genesis brand ranks second in both APEAL and IQS this year, while Porsche ranks top in APEAL and third in IQS.

“Manufacturers are making ever-higher quality vehicles, but this is not coming at the expense of performance, styling, utility or features,” Sargent added.

Highest-Ranked Brands

Porsche ranks highest in overall APEAL for the 13th consecutive year, with an index score of 884. Genesis ranks second overall (869) followed by BMW (855), (854) and Mercedes-Benz (851).

Chrysler is the most improved brand (815), with a 41-point improvement from 2016. Other brands with strong improvements include MINI (+30 points), Nissan (+27) and Honda (+25).

Segment-Level Model APEAL Awards by Corporation

The parent company receiving the most model-level awards for its various brands is Volkswagen AG (six model-level awards), followed by BMW with four.

 Volkswagen AG: Audi A3; Audi A4; Audi A7; Porsche 911; Porsche Cayenne; and Porsche Macan  BMW AG: BMW 2 Series; BMW X1; MINI Clubman; and  Ford Motor Co.: Ford F-150; Ford Super Duty; and Lincoln Continental  General Motors Co.: Cadillac Escalade; Chevrolet Bolt; and Chevrolet Tahoe  Hyundai Motor Co.: Kia Cadenza; Kia Niro; and Kia Soul  Fiat Chrysler Automobiles: Chrysler Pacifica and Dodge Challenger  Honda Motor Co.: Honda CR-V and Honda Ridgeline  Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.: Nissan Altima and Nissan Murano

The Porsche Macan receives a model-level award for the third consecutive year. The BMW 2 Series; BMW X1; Chevrolet Tahoe; Kia Soul; MINI Clubman; and Porsche 911 receive a model-level award for the second consecutive year.

The 2017 U.S. Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study measures owners’ emotional attachment and level of excitement across 77 attributes, ranging from the power they feel when they step on the gas to the sense of comfort and luxury they feel when climbing into the driver’s seat. These attributes are combined into an overall APEAL index score that is measured on a 1,000-point scale. The study, now in its 22nd year, is based on responses gathered from February through May 2017 from nearly 70,000 purchasers and lessees of new 2017 model-year vehicles who were surveyed after 90 days of ownership. The study, which complements the J.D. Power Initial Quality Study,SM is used extensively by manufacturers worldwide to help them design and develop more appealing vehicles and by consumers to help them in their purchase decisions.

Find detailed information on vehicle quality, as well as model photos and specs, at http://www.jdpower.com/cars/awards/automotive-performance-execution-and-layout-study.

For more information about the 2017 U.S. APEAL Study, visit http://www.jdpower.com/resource/jd-power- automotive-performance-execution-and-layout-apeal-study.

See the online press release at http://www.jdpower.com/pr-id/2017110.

J.D. Power is a global leader in consumer insights, advisory services and data and analytics. These capabilities enable J.D. Power to help its clients drive customer satisfaction, growth and profitability. Established in 1968, J.D. Power is headquartered in Costa Mesa, Calif., and has offices serving North/South America, Asia Pacific and Europe. J.D. Power is a portfolio company of XIO Group, a global alternative investments and private equity firm headquartered in London, and is led by its four founders: Athene Li, Joseph Pacini, Murphy Qiao and Carsten Geyer.

Media Relations Contacts Geno Effler; West Coast; 714-621-6224; [email protected] Shane Smith; East Coast; 424-903-3665; [email protected]

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J.D. Power 2017 U.S. Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) StudySM

Top Three Models per Segment Car Segments

Small Car Midsize Car Highest Ranked: Chevrolet Bolt Highest Ranked: Nissan Altima Chevrolet Sonic Honda Accord Toyota Yaris

Small Premium Car Midsize Sporty Car* Highest Ranked: Audi A3 (tie) Highest Ranked: Dodge Challenger Highest Ranked: BMW 2 Series (tie) Chevrolet Camaro BMW i3 Midsize Premium Car Highest Ranked: Audi A7 (tie) Highest Ranked: MINI Clubman Highest Ranked: Lincoln Continental Honda Civic (tie) Volvo S90

Compact Sporty Car* Midsize Premium Sporty Car* Highest Ranked: MINI Cooper Highest Ranked: Porsche 911

Compact Premium Car Large Car Highest Ranked: Audi A4 Highest Ranked: Kia Cadenza Infiniti Q60 BMW 4 Series Dodge Charger

* No other model in this segment performs above segment average. Note: There must be either at least four ranked models or three ranked models comprising at least 80% of sales in any given segment for an award to be presented. The City Car, Compact Premium Sporty Car and Large Premium Car segments did not meet either of these criteria, thus no award is presented in those segments. For more detailed findings on new-vehicle APEAL performance, visit jdpower.com/performance

Source: J.D. Power 2017 U.S. Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) StudySM

Charts and graphs extracted from this press release for use by the media must be accompanied by a statement identifying J.D. Power as the publisher and the study from which it originated as the source. Rankings are based on numerical scores, and not necessarily on statistical significance. No advertising or other promotional use can be made of the information in this release or J.D. Power survey results without the express prior written consent of J.D. Power.

J.D. Power 2017 U.S. Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) StudySM

Top Three Models per Segment SUV, MPV, , Pickup Segments

Small SUV Midsize Pickup Highest Ranked: Kia Niro Highest Ranked: Honda Ridgeline Buick Encore (tie) GMC Canyon (tie) Chevrolet Colorado

Small Premium SUV* * Highest Ranked: BMW X1 Highest Ranked: Chrysler Pacifica Land Rover Range Rover Evoque Large SUV* Compact SUV Highest Ranked: Chevrolet Tahoe Highest Ranked: Honda CR-V GMC Yukon Nissan Rogue Buick Envision Large Premium SUV Highest Ranked: Cadillac Escalade Compact Premium SUV Infiniti QX80 Highest Ranked: Porsche Macan Mercedes-Benz GLS Mercedes-Benz GLC BMW X3 Large Light Duty Pickup Highest Ranked: Ford F-150 Compact MPV* Nissan Titan Highest Ranked: Kia Soul Chevrolet Silverado (tie) GMC Sierra (tie) Midsize SUV Highest Ranked: Nissan Murano Large Heavy Duty Pickup* Dodge Durango Highest Ranked: Ford Super Duty Subaru Outback GMC Sierra HD

Midsize Premium SUV Highest Ranked: Porsche Cayenne Audi Q7 BMW X5

* No other model in this segment performs above segment average. For more detailed findings on new-vehicle APEAL performance, visit jdpower.com/performance

Source: J.D. Power 2017 U.S. Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) StudySM

Charts and graphs extracted from this press release for use by the media must be accompanied by a statement identifying J.D. Power as the publisher and the study from which it originated as the source. Rankings are based on numerical scores, and not necessarily on statistical significance. No advertising or other promotional use can be made of the information in this release or J.D. Power survey results without the express prior written consent of J.D. Power.