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Surpassing well-established foreign brands, Volvo clinches the top spot in South Korea's imported automobile market, according to the Korea Economic Daily Imported Car Service Index (KICSI). With a score of 75.74 out of 100, Volvo's exceptional after-sales service - particularly its swift repairs, precise diagnostics, and state-of-the-art facilities - emerges as a key driver of customer satisfaction.
The victory is Volvo's first-ever since the index's inception in 2015. This accomplishment can be attributed to Volvo's outstanding consumer satisfaction with its precise diagnostic capabilities, swift repair services, and state-of-the-art facilities.
In the previous survey, Lexus held the top position, but this time, it slipped to second place, primarily due to the fastest repair service, averaging only 7.7 days. Toyota followed closely behind, earning praise for their timely service and commitment to fulfilling promises.
The KICSI, a biannual survey of 1,100 imported car drivers, assesses their level of satisfaction with after-sales services provided by carmakers. The index evaluates various factors, including insurance premiums, repair duration, complaint volume, and service infrastructure.
Breaking down the results, Tesla ranked 13th on the index's qualitative indicator, falling below the average of imported car brands in South Korea due to longer repair times than other automakers.
Mercedes-Benz, last year's third-best-selling car brand in the country, slipped to seventh place in the latest KICSI overall ranking. The decline was attributed to higher insurance premiums and repair costs. Porsche, which had held the top spot in the previous four surveys, dropped to fifth place in the latest ranking, while Audi also experienced a slight slip to 13th place.
On the brighter side, BMW saw a significant jump from 13th to 9th place, and Jaguar and Volkswagen witnessed remarkable improvements, skyrocketing to sixth and tenth place, respectively.
In addition to its after-sales achievements in South Korea, Volvo garnered global attention by releasing its groundbreaking Volvo EX30, which simultaneously holds the titles of the most affordable, smallest, and fastest Volvo model. This remarkable addition expands Volvo's product lineup and appeals to a broader customer base in Asia, Europe, and North America.
Remarkably, the Volvo EX30 seamlessly integrates with the current subcompact electric vehicle market, joining the ranks of competitive options like the Chevy Bolt, Bolt EUV, and Kona Electric.
