VOLKSWAGEN GROUP RECEIVES MOST MODEL-LEVEL SEGMENT AWARDS IN J.D. POWER 2013 APEAL STUDY

July 25, 2013 by Volkswagen

• Volkswagen Group products rank highest in five APEAL segments: one for Audi, two for Porsche, and two for Volkswagen

• Overall, 14 Volkswagen Group models rank in the top three in their respective segments

• Porsche is number one brand overall in the APEAL Index Ranking

• Audi is number two overall, moving up two places from 2012

• Volkswagen is the highest ranked non-premium passenger-car brand

Herndon, VA, Jul 24, 2013 — The brands of the Volkswagen Group were recognized today when they received five model-level segment awards in the J.D. Power 2013 Automotive Performance, Execution, and Layout (APEAL) Study, more than any other automotive group in the U.S. Between the Audi, Porsche, and Volkswagen brands, the Group had five vehicles ranked highest in their segments and 14 models in the top three of their respective categories.

Porsche was the top-ranked brand in the Study, for the ninth consecutive year. Audi moved into second place, from fourth the year prior. Volkswagen was 14th in the survey, the highest ranked non-premium passenger-car brand.

The Audi allroad was the highest ranked Compact Premium CUV, with the Audi Q5 second. Porsche received the Midsize Premium CUV award with the Cayenne, a segment in which Audi was second with the Q7. The Porsche Boxster ranked first in the Compact Premium Sporty Car segment. Volkswagen had two highest ranked vehicles: The Passat for Midsize Car and the GTI for Compact Sporty Car.

'The Volkswagen Group's performance in this year's J.D. Power 2013 APEAL Study shows what a tremendous range of products we have in our portfolio of brands,' said Jonathan Browning, President and CEO, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. 'Whether buyers are in the market for a compact hatchback or a midsize sedan, a mid-engine sports car, or a luxurious CUV, our brands offer a product that will delight them.'

The APEAL study examines how rewarding a new vehicle is to own and drive, based on owner evaluations of 77 vehicle attributes. The 2013 APEAL study is based on responses gathered between February and May of 2013 from more than 83,000 purchasers and lessees of new 2013 model-year cars and trucks who were surveyed after the first 90 days of ownership.