FYI: Tesla’s Position Slips in J.D. Power Owner Satisfaction Study as Rivian, Porsche, and Jaguar Lead
Tesla has experienced a notable drop in the latest J.D. Power 2024 U.S. Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study, which measures owner satisfaction across various aspects of vehicle ownership after 90 days. Rivian, Porsche, and Jaguar outranked Tesla, securing the top positions in the study.
### Owner Satisfaction Insights
J.D. Power’s study, published last week, encompasses feedback from 99,144 owners of 2024 model year vehicles. The evaluation reveals a boost in satisfaction across mainstream brands that have traditionally struggled to resonate with consumers. Tesla, however, saw its score dip to 870, down from 878 in the 2023 study. Meanwhile, brands like Porsche, BMW, and Dodge improved their scores from the previous year.
### The Voice of the Customer
“Traditional manufacturers have listened to the Voice of the Customer,” noted J.D. Power Senior Director of Auto Benchmarking Frank Hanley. “They’re launching enhanced vehicles that are more in line with what customers want, including improved interior storage and higher quality materials, as well as ensuring features have ease of use.”
The study examined owner satisfaction based on responses collected between July 2023 and May 2024 from vehicles registered from April 2023 to February 2024. Now in its 29th year, the APEAL study urges owners to evaluate their satisfaction across 37 distinct vehicle factors.
### Infotainment Systems Lag Behind
Infotainment systems emerged as the lowest-ranking category in the study, scoring an average of 823. Despite this, the figure still marked a 5-point improvement from last year. Vehicles equipped with Android Auto or Apple CarPlay performed better, scoring averages of 832 and 840, respectively.
### Criteria for Awards
Despite achieving high scores, Rivian, Tesla, and Polestar were not awarded due to not meeting J.D. Power’s award criteria. “There must be at least three models with 80 percent of market sales or four models with 67 percent of the market sales in any given award segment for an award to be presented,” explains J.D. Power. Consequently, no awards were given in categories such as Small Car, Midsize Premium Car, among others.
### Top-Ranking Vehicle Brands in 2024
Here are the top brands based on owner satisfaction:
#### Premium Brands
1. Rivian (900)*
2. Porsche (891)
3. Jaguar (886)
4. Land Rover (882)
5. BMW (881)
6. Mercedes-Benz (876)
7. Lincoln (874)
8. Genesis (873)
9. Tesla (870)*
10. Cadillac (868)
#### Mass-Market Brands
1. MINI (858)
2. Ram (854)
3. Kia (853)
4. Hyundai (846)
5. GMC (845)
6. Volkswagen (844)
7. Buick (842)
8. Chevrolet (841)
9. Dodge (837)
10. Honda (836)
(*Note: Rivian and Tesla, among others, did not meet the award criteria.)
### Additional J.D. Power Assessments
In other recent evaluations, Tesla, Rivian, and Polestar received low rankings in the J.D. Power Initial Quality Study for 2024 due to many battery-electric vehicles requiring more repairs—partly a consequence of integrating newer technologies.
Nevertheless, it’s not all bleak for Tesla. The company’s mobile app was ranked the best among automakers earlier this year, and both Mercedes-Benz and Tesla were praised for having the industry’s top websites.
### Conclusion
The latest J.D. Power APEAL Study underscores shifting tides in the automotive industry, with traditional manufacturers rapidly catching up to disruptors like Tesla by focusing on quality and user satisfaction. As the landscape continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how these dynamics influence future rankings and consumer preferences.
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William Kouch, Editor of Automotive.fyi
