Kelley Blue Book Marketing Research's Q2 Brand Watch Study Results Announced




2008 Brand Watch 'Brand Image Awards' Scheduled for March in New York City

IRVINE, Calif., Sept. 6 -- Kelley Blue Book (http://www.kbb.com/) today announces the results of Kelley Blue Book Marketing Research's second quarter consumer automotive perceptions research study, Brand Watch. The highly comprehensive report takes a detailed look at in-market new vehicle shoppers' perceptions of brands and important factors driving their purchase decisions while in the midst of the research and shopping process.

"Consumer perceptions of a manufacturer have more impact on the marketplace than many would give them credit for," said Jack Nerad, executive editorial editor and executive market analyst, Kelley Blue Book and kbb.com. "Word-of-mouth among friends and the eventual voting for vehicles with consumers' wallets can influence what their friends and neighbors buy, as well as resale values down the road."

SECOND QUARTER BRAND WATCH STUDY RESULTS

BEST EXTERIOR STYLING:

Non-Luxury Sedan/Coupe/Hatchback Segment: HONDA
Luxury Sedan/Coupe/Hatchback Segment: BMW
Non-Luxury SUV Segment: FORD
Luxury SUV Segment: MERCEDES-BENZ
Truck Segment: CHEVROLET
Minivan Segment: HONDA
Sports Car/Convertible Segment: PORSCHE

BEST INTERIOR LAYOUT/DRIVING COMFORT:

Non-Luxury Sedan/Coupe/Hatchback Segment: TOYOTA
Luxury Sedan/Coupe/Hatchback Segment: LEXUS
Non-Luxury SUV Segment: TOYOTA
Luxury SUV Segment: LEXUS
Truck Segment: CHEVROLET
Minivan Segment: TOYOTA
Sports Car/Convertible Segment: LEXUS

OVERALL FINDINGS

Best Overall Exterior Styling: PORSCHE
Best Overall Interior Layout/Driving Comfort: LEXUS
Best Overall Prestige Brand /Luxury/Sophistication: MERCEDES-BENZ

Now available to vehicle manufacturers and auto industry professionals, the second quarter Brand Watch report taps into active new-vehicle shoppers to determine their perceptions of automotive brands within specific automotive segments. Brand Watch delves into how each manufacturer's brand equity differs across vehicle segments, compares the relative standing of each make vs. competitive makes, and reveals the decision factors of car-buyers within each make and segment. Detailed demographic and psychographic information also is collected, reported and detailed throughout Brand Watch's comprehensive study.

Kelley Blue Book Marketing Research's Second Quarter Brand Watch Study also examines:

-- Important factors driving purchase decisions in each vehicle segment
-- Perceptions of styling/design, driving performance,
durability/reliability and comfort for each make and segment
-- Key psychographic profiles of buyers within each vehicle segment
-- Perceptions and consideration trended among domestics and imports
-- Individual profiles for the top 27 makes
-- The top makes considered by shoppers in each vehicle segment

"Consumer perceptions of what brands have to offer frequently will put certain vehicles on a shoppers' consideration list, or leave them off all together," said Rick Wainschel, vice president of marketing research and brand communications at Kelley Blue Book. "Having Brand Watch in the marketing arsenal allows a manufacturer to see how they are perceived in often-overlooked areas, and also how they rank against other brands in their segment."

The Brand Watch results from the second quarter of 2007, compiled by Kelley Blue Book Marketing Research, reflect the brand perceptions of more than 4,000 active, in-market vehicle shoppers. Each quarter, Kelley Blue Book will announce the results in 17 main categories, including exterior styling and interior layout and comfort, among the seven major vehicle segments. Three overall category winners will also be named; best exterior styling, best interior layout and comfort, and best prestige/luxury brand. Based on the Brand Watch report data, Kelley Blue Book will host the inaugural 2008 Brand Image Awards Dinner and Ceremony in New York City during the week of the New York International Auto Show in March.

For Brand Watch sales inquiries on any vehicle segment or brand, please contact Kelly Gim, director of marketing research services at 949-268-2756 or kgim@kbb.com, or Nicole Stark, marketing research account manager at 949-267-4781 or nstark@kbb.com.