The Mercedes-Benz B-Class has won the J.D. Power satisfaction study in its vehicle segment. The award was presented yesterday in connection with the AMI in Leipzig. The high customer satisfaction is also reflected in the sales figures: since its market launch in 2005, Mercedes-Benz has delivered more than a million B-Class models to customers worldwide. More than 330,000 models of the second generation, which was launched in late 2011, have been sold around the globe in the 30 months of its availability. The sports tourer has done especially well in the German market and is the market leader in the minivan segment there.
The J.D. Power VOSS study (Vehicle Ownership Satisfaction Study) is the largest survey of German motorists and is based on the responses of more than 18,000 drivers. The study employed online interviews to poll the respondents about their level of satisfaction regarding the appeal, quality, service and operating costs of their cars no older than two years. A total of 26 manufacturers and 127 model series were rated. With 82.4 percent the Mercedes-Benz B-Class received the highest satisfaction rating in its vehicle segment.
"The B-Class is the perfect combination of sporty design, impressive driving dynamics and incomparable ride comfort. That is what makes it so popular with our customers", says Ola Källenius, Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing Mercedes-Benz Cars. "What has been particularly noticeable with the current model is that we are reaching the most diverse customer groups, from families with children to active seniors".
Since 2002, the annual satisfaction study by American market research firm J.D. Power is also being conducted in Germany. The VOSS study is published in "AUTO TEST" magazine.
Success story: more than one million B-Class models sold worldwide
Since its market launch in 2005, Mercedes-Benz has delivered more than a million B-Class models to customers worldwide. More than 330,000 models of the second generation, which was launched in late 2011, have been sold around the globe in the 30 months of its availability. The sports tourer has done especially well in the German market and is the market leader in the minivan segment there.
The B-Class is also very popular with fleet customers. In Europe's largest comparative test based on practical experience conducted by the journal "Firmenauto" (Company Car), the fleet managers repeatedly - in 2012, 2013 and 2014 - voted the B-Class the company car of the year in the "Small and Compact Vans" category.
The DEKRA used-vehicle report 2014 identified the B-Class as the vehicle with the least number of defects in the "Vans" category. Furthermore, it won the title of "Vehicle of the Year".
In addition to the A-, CLA- and GLA-Class, the B-Class is a member of the new-generation compact class from Mercedes-Benz. A fifth compact model has already been announced. Sales of the compact cars bearing the three-pointed star are developing highly positively: in April, Mercedes-Benz sold 36,625 vehicles of the A-, B-, CLA- and GLA-Class (+20.3%). Last year, Mercedes-Benz already sold more compact cars than ever before: all in all, exactly 371,399 customers opted for a compact car with the three-pointed star in 2013 (+64.0% over 2012).
