New Energy Vehicle Quality Problems Increase Since 2023, J.D. Power Finds

SHANGHAI: 6 June 2024 – The overall average quality of new energy vehicles (NEVs) this year is 210 problems per 100 vehicles (PP100), a significant increase of 37 PP100 from 2023, according to the

J.D. Power 2024 China New Energy Vehicle Initial Quality Study SM (NEV-IQS), released today. A lower number of problems indicates higher quality.

The study, first published in 2019, is based on the annual J.D. Power U.S. Initial Quality StudySM (IQS). The NEV-IQS measures new-vehicle quality by examining problems experienced by NEV owners in China within the first two to six months of ownership.

The study this year shows that the number of design-related problems has risen 35 PP100 from 2023, becoming the primary factor for the increase in overall quality problems. Vehicles manufactured by domestic startups have the fewest quality problems with 201 PP100, up 31 PP100 from 2023. International brands have the highest number of quality problems at 218 PP100, a substantial increase of 54 PP100 from 2023.

"The competition in the NEV market is intensifying, with automakers constantly launching new models to capture market share," said Elvis Yang, general manager of auto product practice at J.D. Power China. "This has led to significant challenges in quality management as development cycles shorten. This year's study shows that design-related problems significantly outnumber defects. Automakers must prioritize user experience and perceived quality during R&D and focus on thoroughly validating high-tech features to enhance the user experience."

Following are some key findings of the 2024 study:

• Quality of range-extended vehicles is exceptional, leading the industry: In 2024, the quality of range-extended vehicles is leading, with a quality score 8 PP100 lower than the overall average. Additionally, range-extended vehicles excel in powertrain performance and intelligent features.
• Problems with driving assistance and infotainment systems increase significantly: In 2024, the quality problems for driving assistance and infotainment systems increased 7.2 PP100 and 6.9 PP100, respectively, and are the two largest increases among 10 categories. Driving assistance problems mainly focus on backup cameras, including poor image clarity, dirty lenses and loud radar alerts. Infotainment problems are varied, including inaccurate voice recognition, unresponsive touchscreens and inaccurate navigation.
• Interior smell and road noise remain top quality problems but improve significantly: Unpleasant interior smell (7.2 PP100) and road noise (5.7 PP100) are the top two quality problems—and have been for six consecutive years. However, compared with 2023, the number of problems in these two areas have decreased 2.2 PP100 and 1.8 PP100, respectively.
• Quality problems experienced by younger owners have increased: While NEV design satisfaction among young vehicle owners (born after 1995) has improved year over year (+26 points), their satisfaction with quality has decreased (+47 PP100). Among the top 10 problem categories, problems experienced in the driving experience category exceed the average. Among the top 20 problems, six are for driving experience, including steering control, tire grip, suspension and pedal noise.

Highest-Ranked NEV Models

Models that rank highest in their respective segment are:    

• Small BEV Car segment: Geely Panda mini
• Compact BEV Car segment: Geometry A Pro
• Compact BEV SUV segment: Aion V Plus and BYD Yuan Plus, in a tie
• Midsize BEV Car segment: NIO ET5/ET5T
• Midsize BEV SUV segment: Audi Q4 e-tron
• Large BEV segment: ZEEKR 001
• Premium BEV segment: NIO ES8
• Mass Market PHEV Car segment: BYD Seal PHEV
• Mass Market PHEV SUV segment: WEY Lanshan DHT PHEV

Award criteria in the Small BEV SUV, Premium PHEV, Mass Market PHEV MPV and Mass Market BEV MPV segments were not met, therefore no awards are given this year in those segments.

The China New Energy Vehicle Initial Quality Study (NEV-IQS) measures new-vehicle quality by examining problems experienced by NEV owners in two segments: design-related problems and defects/ malfunctions. Specific diagnostic questions include 236 problem symptoms across 10 categories: features/ controls/ displays; exterior; interior; infotainment system; seats; driving experience; driving assistance; powertrain; battery/ charging; and climate.

The study this year is based on responses from 9,791 vehicle owners who purchased their vehicle between July 2023 and January 2024. The study includes 105 models from 48 different brands, among which 74 models have sufficient samples. The study was fielded from December 2023 through March 2024 in 81 cities across China.

J.D. Power is a global leader in consumer insights, advisory services and data and analytics. A pioneer in the use of big data, artificial intelligence (AI) and algorithmic modeling capabilities to understand consumer behavior, J.D. Power has been delivering incisive industry intelligence on customer interactions with brands and products for more than 55 years. The world's leading businesses across major industries rely on J.D. Power to guide their customer-facing strategies.

J.D. Power has offices in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. To learn more about the company’s business offerings, please visit china.jdpower.com or stay connected with us on J.D. Power WeChat and Weibo.

Media Relations Contacts

Mengmeng Wang, J.D. Power; China; +86 21 8026 5719; mengmeng.wang@jdpa.com

Geno Effler, J.D. Power; USA; 001-714-621-6224; media.relations@jdpa.com

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