J.D. Power and Associates (J.D. Power), one of the
world's largest market research firms and the top provider of customer
satisfaction research, yesterday announced the acquisition of Automotive
Resources Asia (ARA).
The company is buying ARA an Asia-leading market strategy and information
firm specializing in Asia's automobile markets to satisfy the Chinese market's
booming demand and fuel further expansion.
The deal will meld global and local information agencies. However, the only
detail revealed by the two parties was that it was a whole purchase.
"We have been co-operating with ARA for two years to produce Asia-Pacific
market information and powertrain forecasts. We are both very happy and
satisfied with our partnership. Then why not follow the rational line to do some
work as well?" said John C. Humphrey, managing director of J.D. Power China.
Nowadays, J.D. Power's customer-based studies of vehicle quality, consumer
appeal, reliability and dealer performance are used by every leading auto
manufacturer. It is also one of the most trusted satisfaction research providers
for auto buyers.
Li Lubo, senior director, business and market development of J.D. Power, told
China Daily that one important reason for the acquisition was that the company
was in dire need of fresh blood with professional experience.
"At present, except our stable syndicated research, we see more and more
appeal for research in China, not only from the global auto giants but also
domestic vehicle producers. It's a big challenge for J.D. Power," said Li.
"And we need professional talent to meet the increasing training orders from
auto manufacturers," he added.
"So we acquired ARA to strengthen our manpower and will open more and more
offices in China."
J.D. Power, a unit of the leading global information services provider the
McGraw-Hill Companies, currently only has offices in Shanghai and Beijing.
Humphrey also disclosed that after the acquisition, J.D. Power would design
more research products for the Chinese market.
Founded in 1993, Thailand-based and Shanghai-registered ARA's high-quality
and timely market information has helped automakers and suppliers enter and
compete effectively in the world's fastest-growing automotive markets: China and
the ASEAN region.
Its highly regarded surveys are routinely used by global and domestic auto
manufacturers and spare parts suppliers for insight on everything from new
vehicle buyers' behaviour, to future product demand forecasts.
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