Monday, February 18, 2013

How The Americans Saved Jaguar



Anyone connected with a ‘Brand’ knows that retaining customers and growing sales from that base is much more cost-effective than trying to get conquest sales, but customer retention methods vary.

Most methods could be described as a bribe really, either in the form of a cash bonus, a discount or buy one, get one free.


In the early 90s Jaguar Cars in the USA faced a serious problem. Its customer retention rate fell as low as 27%, reflecting its reputation for poor quality cars. Jaguar dealers really only sold cars two ways - cash, or hire purchase, and once customers came to grips with the reality of poor quality they were usually lost to the brand.

Jaguar’s owner, Ford Motor Company, appointed Jim Padilla, one of its top engineers and quality control experts as Chief Engineer. He worked a form of magic to ‘design-in’ better components, and reverse the line workers attitude to quality. His efforts effected massive quality improvements in just two years.


Despite vastly improved cars, Jaguar’s reputation remained tarnished, and although the public relations programs were aimed at getting the word out, it was clearly going to take a long time before the ‘new and improved’ image penetrated the phobia most potential buyers suffered from.


Jaguar got great press, and the media acknowledged the cars were clearly much improved. Even Jaguar dealers, who were as critical as the customers were impressed. But, Jaguar needed something extra to bring in the buyers, and more importantly, retain them as loyal owners.


Ford operated a very successful leasing program, called ‘Red Carpet Leasing’ and Jaguar decided that leasing could not only increase sales, but may also lead to stronger customer retention.

Just two years into the leasing program the signs were good. Jaguar’s rating in the influential J.D. Power Initial Quality Study (IQS) shot up near the top, and dealers told the company that the customers regularly reported their satisfaction with the quality of the cars.


Sales rates also climbed as a result of the new leasing program, and thanks to an innovative way of dealing with cars at the end of the lease contract, it looked like all the factors which improve the residual (or retained) value of off-lease cars were pointed in the right direction.

Jaguar had taken the decision that as cars were returned at the end of the lease contract, rather than let them be sold on the open used car market (where there would be no control over prices), it would take in all the cars, and after a very exhaustive mechanical check, would auction them only to Jaguar dealers, via one of America’s most respected auction companies.

This way the best ‘used’ Jaguars were only available through its dealer network. This had two benefits - first, it helped maintain good prices (retained value), but more importantly the second benefit was that it made ‘cheaper’ Jaguars available to a new class of buyer - people who always lusted after a Jaguar, but couldn’t afford a new model.


All America's Jaguar dealers sang with one voice: "It was the leasing program which helped Jaguar turn the corner in its biggest and most important market". 

Keeping in mind that most lease contracts were for 36 months, after just six years Jaguar’s customer retention rate had soared to more than 65%.

So, Jaguar’s method of building a stronger customer base wasn’t a bribe, because it was quite a complex and expensive gamble involving a new way of getting people to consider a sort of ‘try before you buy’ scheme, and let them experience Jaguar’s improved quality. It was also much easier for the dealers to replace an off-lease car at the end of the lease contract with a new model - and that’s when the customer retention rate ratcheted up and confirmed the success of the program.

Concurrent with the lease program Jaguar took an even riskier retailing gamble, by offering a 30 day money back guarantee to any buyers who paid cash, or took the car on hire purchase! Auto industry experts in America thought it was crazy! Given Jaguar’s poor reputation for quality, this was sure to lead to hundreds of cars being returned!

In reality, for the duration of the year-long program, Jaguar only repurchased less than two dozen cars. Some of course, were frivolous returns, from buyers testing the scheme, but there we some genuine cases. However, that program, helped convince potential customers that Jaguar must have truly gotten on top of the quality issues.

All of which goes to prove that if you want to get really serious about retaining customers it’s going to cost time, money and genuine effort, to bring about change. Remember, you get nothing for nothing!


Oh, lastly. Sales? From a nadir of 9,651 in 1991, along to 1996 when Jaguar was selling close to 22,000 cars a year to Americans.

Friday, February 8, 2013

BMW's Numbers Game - 60 from 1


Over my years of car testing I’ve driven lots of BMWs and always enjoyed them. Back in the 70s, in Munich, I got a lecture from the then PR Chief about how BMWs were drivers’ cars and that the design and engineering principles were inviolate.

 

As far as I’m concerned BMW has religiously stuck to its brief, but at this year’s Geneva Salon BMW will break a covenant – front wheel drive models from the company that prides itself on producing only rear wheel drive cars!

 

While the new 1-Series (below) features a twin-turbocharged diesel engine that delivers 60 mpg (4.4 l/100km), I believe we will see the first production FWD cars, which evolved from the Active Tourer Concept design model shown at the Paris Salon last year.

 

BMW enthusiasts should not be the slightest bit concerned about this shift – if this company can produce a great car like the Mini, then a FWD BMW should be a doddle.

 

Looking back to BMWs I’ve driven recently, it is the diesels I have most admired.

Sure, I truly enjoyed a petrol-powered M3 coupe, which was launched to the media in Port Macquarie, and a fantastic drive up through the Great Dividing Range, along the Oxley Highway to Walcha – then back down the mountain to a fabulous dinner, replete with great driving stories recalled from the day’s drive.

 

However, I think the BMW X3 2.0D, the 520D and the 730D are the cars that I’ve really enjoyed – not only for their driving pleasure, but the delivery of a great experience from a diesel powerplant.

 
I drove the X3 SUV around the Mount Macedon region, just outside Melbourne – and I came away thinking: “Why would you want a bigger, more powerful SUV?” This practical off-roader has loads of room, compact dimensions, and terrific performance.

 

Then I drove the 520D along what is called the ‘Burke & Wills Track’ and marvelled at how a 2-litre diesel had been fitted to a (relatively) big car, and how the performance hardly seemed to suffer – certainly not by my subjective judgement! It’s a great highway cruiser.

 

A spin on the Queensland Gold Coast’s mountainous Hinterland roads in a 730d showed that even the biggest of BMW’s models had been enhanced by a torquey, quiet, and fuel-efficient oil-burner.

If the Active Tourer Concept (below) comes to market looking like it did in Paris, I think BMW will have another winner on its hands. Front-Wheel-Drive? No worries.
 
 

BMW has stuck to its principles and despite the fact that (in size) it’s a minnow, compared to Daimler-Benz and Volkswagen Group, I think that as long as we are able to enjoy driving great cars, we will love the fact that BMW continues to adhere to the principle of the ‘Ultimate Driving Machine’.