BIZCHINA / Overseas Investment
J.D. Power buys ARA for push into Asia
By Li Fangfang (China Daily)
Updated: 2006-09-13 09:05
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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