Your Monday Maintenance Tip: Why Pay for Diagnostics

Episode 5 in Car Care's series of videos aimed at educating you in what to expect and what questions to ask when you go to your repair shop. Be comfortable asking questions at the repair shop!

Video courtesy of Car Care's Youtube channel.

Hyundai's Brand Value Reaches New High

• Hyundai is the world’s fastest growing auto brand since 2005
• Hyundai’s brand value growth continues to exceed industry average
  

Hyundai Motor Company, the fastest growing automotive company by brand, saw its brand value surge 24.4 percent from a year earlier to $7.5 billion, according to brand consultancy Interbrand’s 2012 Best 100 Global Brands.

Hyundai, which has been included in the Best 100 Global Brands list for eight consecutive years, ranked No. 53 out of 100 brands this year, a steady increase from the No. 84 position in 2005 and the company’s highest ranking ever.

“Hyundai’s recent investment in global campaigns and sensational new product designs are fulfilling customers’s emotional needs,” Interbrand said in a statement. “Brand awareness for Hyundai has increased phenomenally in a short period of time and we are looking forward to the brand’s future direction.”

The whopping growth rate of 24.4 percent this year significantly outperformed the industry’s average growth rate of 11.2 percent. Beyond the auto industry, Hyundai is also one of the world’s fastest growing brands, closely trailing the growth rate of brands such as Apple Inc., Google Inc., and Amazon.com.

In addition to the company’s continuous focus on quality, Hyundai attributed the stellar results to its brand management efforts. Hyundai announced its new `Modern Premium’ brand concept at the 2011 North American International Auto Show, unveiling its new brand direction and slogan. This year, Hyundai launched its first global brand campaign “Live Brilliant.”

“The significant growth in brand value, despite global economic difficulties and fierce competition, shows our enhanced brand status,” said Won-Hong Cho, Chief Marketing Officer at Hyundai Motor’s headquarters inSeoul. “We will strengthen our efforts to become the most beloved brand by delivering more values beyond customers’ expectations.”

The Interbrand rankings are calculated using companies’ financial balance sheets combined with marketing activities, while also reflecting each brand’s potential profit.

< Automotive Brand Rankings >

Rank (Auto)	Brand	Brand Value ($100 mln)		2012 Rank (total)
			Y-o-Y
1	Toyota	303	9%	10
2	Mercedes	301	10%	11
3	BMW	291	18%	12
4	Honda	173	-11%	21
5	VW	93	18%	39
6	Ford	80	6%	45
7	Hyundai	75	24%	53
8	Audi	72	17%	55
9	Porsche	51	12%	72
10	Nissan	50	30%	73
11	Kia	41	신규	87

< Hyundai Motor’s Brand Value (‘05~‘12) >

Year	Brand Value ($100 mln)	Rank (total)
2005	34.8	84
2006	40.8	75
2007	44.5	72
2008	48.5	72
2009	46.0	69
2010	50.3	65
2011	60	61
2012	74.7	53

Article and image courtesy of Hyundai News.

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Hyundai Motor America reports record September sales

• Seventh Straight Month Breaking the 60,000 Mark
• Best-Ever September Sales
• 25th Consecutive Year-Over-Year Monthly Sales Increase

Hyundai Motor America wrapped up the third quarter of 2012 setting multiple sales records including a record 60,025 sales for the month of September. Sales were up 15 percent for the month and up 10 percent for the first nine months of the year versus 2011.

“September was a very encouraging month for Hyundai as we avoided the traditional back-to-school sales decline and began to reap the benefits of a materially improved inventory situation on our core vehicle lines,” said Dave Zuchowski, executive vice president of sales. “We’re well positioned for a strong fourth quarter as sales of the newly launched Elantra GT, Elantra Coupe, the all-new Azera and all-new Santa Fe continued at a brisk pace. Our fourth quarter production plan is up nearly 20 percent on a year-over-year basis.”

The all-new Azera and the Elantra family saw sales gains of a remarkable 1028 percent and 27 percent, respectively, over last September. The Tucson saw sales gains of 23 percent over the same period a year ago, and Veloster, the three-door coupe now available in both turbo and non-turbo models, continues to impress with a sales gain of 262 percent. Hyundai fleet sales and mix remained low at a nine percent mix for the month and year-to-date, among the lowest in the industry.

CARLINE	SEPT/2012	SEPT/2011	CY/2012	CY/2011
ACCENT	4,313	4,525	51,438	40,770
SONATA	17,332	18,181	175,346	174,761
ELANTRA	18,305	14,386	152,575	147,922
SANTA FE	7,378	6,213	50,961	57,981
AZERA	891	79	5,993	1,407
TUCSON	4,573	3,724	37,844	34,896
VERACRUZ	1,224	817	7,340	6,836
VELOSTER	3,020	834	28,338	834
GENESIS	2,669	3,000	27,016	25,224
EQUUS	320	292	2,963	2,283
TOTAL	60,025	52,051	539,814	492,914

SALES-WEIGHTED FUEL ECONOMY

	Sept. CAFE (mpg)	2012 CYTD CAFÉ	Sept. Window Label Combined MPG	2012 CYTD Window Label Combined MPG
Car	37.9	38	28.6	28.6
Truck	29.1	28.9	21.9	22.0
Hyundai Brand	37.4	37.3	28.3	28.1

	SEPTEMBER	2012 CYTD
40-MPG (EPA estimated) Sales	22,998	208,324
Mix of Total Sales	38%	39%

Hyundai achieved a corporate average fuel economy level of 37.4 (EPA estimated 28.3 MPG window label value) in September.

“With our improved inventory position driven by the addition of the third shift in September at our Alabama plant, and the improving availability of our all-new Georgia-built Santa Fe, we’re looking forward to higher dealer stock levels and strong sales results through year-end,” said John Krafcik president and CEO of Hyundai Motor America.

Article courtesy of Hyundai News.

Your Monday Maintenance Tip: Keep Your Cool in Hot Summer Cars

When it’s hot outside, one of the last places you want to be is sitting in traffic without a properly functioning air conditioning (A/C) system. To help avoid this uncomfortable situation, the Car Care Council recommends having your A/C system checked annually to make sure it is functioning at its peak performance level when the temperatures are soaring.

“Making sure your A/C system is working properly will give you the peace of mind knowing that your vehicle will keep you cool and safe when you hit the road this summer,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. “Not only are high temperatures harmful to the body with prolonged exposure, but they can provide unnecessary wear and tear on a vehicle.”

A vehicle’s heating, ventilating and air conditioning system (HVAC) keeps the interior cabin comfortable in any season by providing the right temperature and humidity level. Typical A/C service consists of the following steps:

• Service technician visually inspects hoses, lines, seals and other components for leaks as well as inspect the drive belt for cracks or damage.

• Technician checks pressures to test operation, refrigerant charge and outlet temperatures.

• If the system is found to be low on refrigerant, a leak test is performed to find the source of the leak. Keep in mind that if your vehicle is leaking refrigerant, it is damaging the ozone layer.

• Refrigerant may be added if necessary to “top off” the system, although some states do not allow “topping off.”

• A technician may also check for evidence of refrigerant cross-contamination, which is the mixing of refrigerants.

• A/C service should also include a check of the compressor’s drive belt and tension.

Your Monday Maintenance tip courtesy of Car Care.

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