Fuel economy performance is key for two-wheeler owners in India

Owners of two-wheelers powered  by internal combustion engines (ICE) place more importance on fuel economy performance when determining vehicle product satisfaction, according to the J.D. Power 2023 India Two-Wheeler Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study ^SM (2WAPEAL).

Owners appreciate the industry performance with 80% of them citing that the fuel efficiency they experience is in line with their expectations, according to the study. 

J.D. Power attributed the importance on fuel economy performance of two-wheelers to the continued high level of petrol prices. J.D. Power is a global leader in consumer insights, advisory services and data and analytics.

After a hiatus since 2019, J.D. Power has re-launched  the India Two-Wheeler APEAL Study this year in collaboration with NielsenIQ.  

Interestingly, the importance of fuel efficiency as a reason to purchase is high only in the entry level  motorcycle segment. Across other segments, owners cite aspects such as styling, engine performance  and reliability as more important purchase drivers. 

In this year’s study, the industry average is 823 points (on a 1,000-point scale). In both the scooters and  motorcycles segments, the average is 821. For the first time, the study includes the electric two-wheeler  segment, which averages 838. 

“While fuel efficiency has always been an important driver of satisfaction, owners in the upper executive  and premium segments have in past attached a lower importance to it,” said Sandeep Pande, lead of the  automotive practice India at NielsenIQ. “However, the sustained high levels of fuel prices pivot owners to  be more sensitive to this parameter, especially when considering their product satisfaction levels.” 

Following are additional key findings of the 2023 study: 

• Charging and connectivity drive electric two-wheelers’ owner satisfaction: Key drivers of product  satisfaction among EV owners are the range of the vehicle, ease of use of mobile application and  ease of home charging. 

• Much lower APEAL scores among youngest cohort: APEAL scores are lower among owners under 30  years of age (814 points) than among owners in the other age brackets (832 on average). 

• Owners unsure of brand repurchase: A notable percentage—42%—of two-wheeler owners say they  are unsure of repurchasing the same brand for their next vehicle. 

The study measures owners’ satisfaction with their two-wheeler in various vehicle systems. The study  covers 52 individual product-level attributes across vehicle systems such as seats; looks and styling; controls, switches and locks; engine and transmission; fuel economy; and ride and handling. An  additional category for connectivity is included for electric two-wheelers. 

The 2023 India Two-Wheeler APEAL Study (2WAPEAL) is based on responses from 7,465 new two-wheeler  owners who purchased their vehicle from March through November 2022. The study was fielded from  August through December 2022. NielsenIQ conducted face-to-face surveys in 40 major cities in India, asking  more than 200 questions of two-wheeler owners about their product experience in their initial months post  purchase. After conducting the surveys, the responses were cleaned for data quality and calculated. Brands  included in the study are ranked according to an aggregate score on a 1,000-point scale, with a higher score  indicating a better performance. 

Highest-Ranking Models

• Honda Dio ranks highest in the scooter economy segment with a score of 831.
• TVS Ntorq ranks highest in the scooter executive segment with a score of 838.
• Honda Dream ranks highest in the motorcycle economy segment with a score of 838.
• TVS Raider ranks highest in the motorcycle executive segment with a score of 850.
• Honda Unicorn ranks highest in the motorcycle premium segment with a score of 831.