Ft. Lauderdale, FL., Oct. 30, 2003 -- Yamaha once again ranks highest in customer satisfaction, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2003 Marine Engine Competitive Information Study released Oct. 30 at the 44th annual Ft. Lauderdale Boat Show.
In this latest Study, J.D. Power and Associates Ranked Yamaha highest in Customer Satisfaction for Four Stroke Outboards. The annual study is based on responses of 10,734 consumers who purchased a new boat during the previous calendar year. Boat owners were asked about their on-the-water experience with their new outboard, sterndrive or inboard boat engines. Study results were calculated using an engine performance index, which includes eight engine attributes: ease of starting when engine is cold; ease of starting when engine is hot; quietness of the engine at cruising speed; ability of boat to accelerate rapidly; cruising speed of boat; engine fumes; cruise time/range between fuel stops; and the standard warranty coverage of the engine.
Yamaha Marine Group President Phil Dyskow said, "For Yamaha Outboards to receive this recognition for two years in a row is exceptional news. The J.D. Power and Associates award is the ultimate recognition because it is the voice of the customer and how they feel about their engines. Most companies would be honored to rank highest in customer satisfaction once, but to repeat the following year is most gratifying."
Last year, J.D. Power and Associates expanded its marine study to include two awards for outboard motors -- one for two-strokes and the other for four-stroke motors.
"Our goals of constantly exceeding expectations and striving to be the industry's technological leader is 'the cornerstone' of our business plan, and we have no intention of slowing down our efforts," noted Dyskow. "We believe the customer is our boss and is the one best qualified to determine which brand of outboard motors are best suited to match their boating interests and expectations. Receiving this award for the second year in a row is a good indicator that our plans at Yamaha are on the right track."
Like last year, Yamaha achieved the highest index score among four-stroke outboard engines, with high marks in nearly every key engine attribute measured, particularly in the ability to accelerate rapidly and for performance at cruising speed.
In addition to the J.D. Power and Associates Awards for Customer Satisfaction, Yamaha has received many other awards during recent years. Yamaha Outboards was named a recipient of the Marine Industry CSI Award for Excellence in Customer Satisfaction for the past two years. Yamaha swept the boating industry innovation awards during 1999 and 2000 by receiving the 1999 IMTEC Innovation Award, given by the National Marine Manufacturers Assn.; Motor Boating & Sailing Magazine's Innovation Award; and the Design & Engineering Award 2000 from Popular Mechanics magazine. Yamaha also received the 2000 Innovation Award presented at Boating Week by Boating Writers International for its revolutionary new V6 four stroke outboards.
Yamaha has been making and selling outboard motors worldwide for more than 40 years. Ever since Yamaha brought its full line to the U.S. market in the 1984 model year, it has established a consistent trend of earning industry awards for innovation and engineering from the industry and members of the media. More than 6 million Yamaha Outboards have now been sold since its first small 7hp motor was produced in 1960. The motors are available in the U.S. through a national network of retail marine dealers and are offered on more than 100 different independent boat builders.
To see the complete line of Yamaha's award-recognized, innovative and reliable outboards, visit a nearby Yamaha Outboard dealer or click on to http://www.yamaha-motor.com and navigate to the outboard motor pages. Headquartered in Westlake Village, Calif., J.D. Power and Associates is a global marketing information services firm operating in key business sectors including market research, forecasting, consulting, training and customer satisfaction. The firm's quality and satisfaction measurements are based on responses from millions of consumers annually.