Pirelli the highest Ranked Car/Compact Van Tyre say American Motorists
A study by J.D. Power and Associates places Pirelli highest
in satisfaction for its original equipment car/compact van tyres
among over 30,000 new vehicle users.
Managing Director of the Pirelli Tyre Sector, Francesco Gori:
" Pirelli's strategy of attacking the North American
original equipment market is producing significant results,
thanks also to MIRS™ technology"
Milan 17 September 2003 - Pirelli car/compact van tyres have been ranked highest by American motorists, compared to all the other original equipment brands included in the study. This has been confirmed by J.D. Power and Associates, one of the principal institutes for the analysis of the United States market, in its annual tyre research into the Index of Satisfaction, conducted among 30,478 owners of new cars.
Pirelli ranked highest overall among one-year old car/compact van owners included in the 2003 Original Equipment Tire Satisfaction Study, an initiative by which J.D. Power and Associates measure the level of user satisfaction with their original equipment tyres.
The study is based on the consumer's perception of his/her tyres as concerns quality, performance, brand image and service: the final satisfaction index is calculated by measuring five factors: the tyre's durability, traction, appearance, ride and handling. Pirelli came highest in its segment by achieving the highest marks in the categories that establish the tyres' levels of traction, ride and handling as well as of appearance. In its study, J.D. Power and Associates particularly underlined that the Pirellis' key factor was handling, with more than half the motorists confirming they were " delighted" in this area.
" The prestige of the J.D. Power and Associates Award is recognised throughout the world" , said Francesco Gori, Managing Director of the Pirelli Tyre Sector. " Pirelli had already received the best original equipment tyre brand recognition by motorists in 1992 and again in 1996 (tie) in the Tyres for the passenger vehicle category. The Pirelli strategy of attacking the North American market is producing significant results: we are continuing to invest in research and development; we have strengthened our operation in the U.S.A. with new headquarters in Georgia, where we are able to produce high performance tyres with the automated MIRS™ system: that will be integrated with high volume production based on innovative systems coming from South American plants, in particular those of Brazil.
" In the recent past (2001 and 2002)," Gori continued, " Pirelli has come second in the J.D. Power and Associates 'Original Equipment Tire Customer Satisfaction' study. Now, we are top and this recognition makes us proud because it underlines our commitment to providing American motorists with all the reliability and performance of Pirelli tyres: a commitment in which we are also particularly active today in the SUV segment of the market."
J.D. Power and Associates is an international market research and study organisation, with its headquarters in California. The company is widely known for its specialist research and information activity concerning consumer opinion and customer satisfaction at world level.