For immediate release - Tuesday, January 15, 2008

[Adobe PDF version available]

San Diego – “Driver’s desires, needs and attribute priorities are called the customer’s vehicle DNA,” according to Alexander Edwards, Strategic Vision President of Automotive. “When you understand the emotional payoff delivered by each vehicle attribute measured against the customer’s vehicle DNA, you will know why an African American views the Chrysler 300 as a vehicle of choice while an Asian American chooses an Acura MDX or BMW 3-Series (accounting for price). This understanding can provide automotive manufacturers with the knowledge of how to create the right product and communicate the right messages that will sell more vehicles, build brand equity, increase customer advocacy and develop future loyalty and retention.”

Everyone wants a great deal on a quality vehicle that meets his or her needs and desires (e.g. affordable with great styling, performance and innovation). However, according to Dr. Darrel Edwards, CEO and Founder of Strategic Vision, “Attitudes, images and personal values ranging from desired security and trust to displaying one’s individuality and success are distinctive in that they differ in the strength or magnitude of their importance among ethnic groups. When the essences of these values are accurately addressed in product, communication and dealership, the best opportunity to capture shopping and purchasing interests and priorities becomes available.”

Differences that clearly stand out with African Americans are greater desires for success and the ability to show it. African Americans are much more likely to advocate vehicles that express their individuality and success to family and friends. Latinos have a greater concern for the impact on the environment while also exhibiting a greater desire to experience exhilarating driving and performance than others. Asian Americans have stronger demands for a balanced, complete vehicle performance and style that matches their lives.

“Understanding the hearts and minds of the ethnic buyer is relevant for the entire automotive industry as the likes and preferences of African Americans, Asian Americans and Latinos are more likely to shape opinions in the US,” reports Christopher Chaney, Director of Special Projects for Strategic Vision. “For example, the true or pure innovators (sometimes called early adopters) – those whose reactions usually best predict the success of new and innovative ideas and products – are more likely to be African Americans (11%) and Latinos (13%) while only 6.5% of Caucasians and Asians see themselves as true innovators. ”

So what is the essence of the images that the ethnic profiles of the African American, Hispanic and Asian communities are looking for? When examining Strategic Vision’s New Vehicle Experience Study (NVES™) some trends become clear. African Americans are attracted to vehicles that are Powerful and Classy (e.g. Chrysler 300). Hispanic buyers look for Aggressive and Powerful, but Confident and Protective, vehicles (e.g. Kia Sedona). Asian buyers, looking for the “complete” package, choose vehicles that are Pleasant yet Powerful, Easy Going yet Protective – all with modern design and technology (e.g. Acura MDX).

Click here for full report with tables.

How do the various manufacturers rate in meeting the desires of the ethnic communities? One rating used throughout the industry is Strategic Vision’s Total Quality Index (TQI). TQI captures the more complete experience buyers have with his or her vehicle including rational and emotional connection. TQI calculates the owners’ responses to product weighted by the overall emotional response that the experience creates and transforms the responses to a 1000 point scale for comparisons. Following is an array of TQI scores for luxury and non-luxury brands that were leaders for the various ethnic communities in 2007:

Click here for full report with tables.

Once personal priorities and vehicle/brand perceptions of the new vehicle customer are understood, it becomes clearer why those of differing ethnicities purchase the brands and models they do. For example: for African Americans the Chrysler 300 matches their desired imagery of being Powerful and Classy. The Chrysler 300 is also one of the highest TQI rated vehicles for African Americans and therefore, it should be no mystery as to why 2% of all vehicles sold to African Americans are Chrysler 300s. In short, if you understand customer values and provide a vehicle that delivers the right product and message, you will sell more vehicles.

Click here for full report with tables.

The purchase behaviors of new vehicle buyers are directly influenced by the ability of the manufacturer and dealer to satisfy their needs and desires. Those who understand the essence of cross-cultural and cultural distinction will be the ones to lead the automotive industry among the innovative and early adopters. Also, it is through understanding the desired and chosen imagery connected to personal values that correct messages increase sales, higher advocacy, better retention and greater customer loyalty.

Strategic Vision is part of StrategicVision Worldwide, a research-based consultancy with thirty-five years of experience in understanding the consumers’ and constituents’ decision-making systems for a variety of clients, including most automotive manufacturers, American Airlines, Procter & Gamble and Coca-Cola. Its unique expertise is in identifying individuals’, groups’ and societies’ comprehensive motivational hierarchies, including the descriptive attributes, personal consequences associated with experiences, the values and emotions that establish priorities and set motivation, and the personal images that reveal meaning. ValueCentered® psychology and methods were defined by Dr. Darrel Edwards in 1968.

For further information, contact Alexander Edwards, President Automotive; Christopher Chaney, Director of Special Projects; Susan Johnson, President of Strategic Vision; or Dr. Darrel Edwards, CEO at (858) 576-7141; or visit www.strategicvision.com.