The results are in, and the most recent iteration of the J.D. Power US Tech Experience Index (TXI) Study has once again revealed Genesis to be the highest-ranking overall brand in the US in terms of innovation. Last year was the fifth consecutive year that Genesis earned the title. Further, Hyundai ranked highest among mass-market brands for the sixth year running. Just how does J.D. Power measure innovation, and what do the major study findings say about the individual winners and the industry at large? Read on for a closer look.
The Most Innovative Brand Is Genesis, With Hyundai Taking The Mainstream Win
The Text Experience Index (TXI) study, now in its 10th year, has introduced a new category this year. This classification includes AI-based technologies designed to enhance the driving experience by anticipating drivers' needs. As the survey adapts and evolves, its results help automakers understand the user experience across dozens of new features, and how they stack up against their rivals and the market at large.
Smart technologies appear to not only anticipate the driver’s needs but also reduce the cognitive workload and some of the difficulties that drivers face with digital systems. Ultimately, what matters most to vehicle owners - and therefore to automakers and suppliers - is how useful the technology is and whether it enhances their driving experience. While smart technologies are not without issues, they represent a meaningful step forward. Continued development will be essential to address current challenges and maximize their effectiveness.
-Kathleen Rizk, senior director of user experience benchmarking and technology at J.D. Power.
Key findings of this year's study show that certain smart technologies are beginning to improve vehicle initial quality scoring, driving an increase in overall user experience scores. When companies get it right, automakers can use tech like this to automatically adjust heating, ventilation, and air conditioning to improve comfort and efficiency.
Other cars can anticipate your needs in different clever ways. The Chevrolet Corvette can be set to activate its front bumper lift system based on GPS triggers, and the Mercedes EQS can learn the locations you're most likely to pop the trunk when exiting the car, and display the appropriate button prominently on screen when you park there. Overall, the user experience of features like these is improving, according to the latest TXI report. In turn, the advancements is driving higher overall satisfaction among users who have the systems in question.
Other study findings show that blind spot camera mirrors are a must-have technology, with 93 percent of customers using this feature most of the time, and 74% saying they want it in their next vehicle, too. Vehicles with this tech also tend to spend less time sitting on dealer lots than vehicles without it, according to the TXI. Currently, blind-spot camera mirrors aren't widespread in the industry, though they're widely available in Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis products.
Car wash mode, a relatively new development, is having the opposite effect and dragging scores down. When engaged, this stem takes steps that prepare the vehicle for its bath, closing all windows, turning rain sensors off, and folding in mirrors. Various automakers offer a take on this system, but owners aren't impressed. J.D. Power reports that the functionality is often buried deep within infotainment system sub-menus, causing delays and frustration for users. Better instructions and faster operation of the system's functions could help this feature be adopted and used more widely.
According to the study data, features surrounding biometric authentication and driver monitoring via facial recognition drive the highest number of problems reported in the latest TXI study. This means automakers have plenty of room to improve the performance of these systems.
Considering technologies like these, and many others, the study ultimately gives each automaker a score (out of 1,000) that ranks each contender against the next. Scoring comes after the survey analyzes 40 automotive technologies divided into multiple categories. Among all brands, Genesis ranks highest overall, and therefore the best among premium brands for innovation for its fifth year running. With a score of 538 for Genesis, Cadillac comes in second place with 526 points, and Lincoln rounds out third place with 523.
Considering only mass-market brands, it's Hyundai with a score of 493 in the top position for the sixth year in a row. Kia and Mitsubishi follow in second and third place, with scores of 474 and 471, respectively.
Automakers with the lowest innovation ranking scores include Chrysler, Ram, Jeep, Jaguar, Honda, and Mazda.
Sources: J.D. Power
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This article originally appeared on CarBuzz and is republished here with permission.
