Where were they 10 years ago? Easy to improve when you start from the very bottom.
easy to say "the only way they can go, is up", but many brands are "stuck" in the middle...while "climbing" may not have been much of a problem initially, getting to be among the top is certainly a testament to their achievements...if you look at the stats, there are a lot of established brands in the bottom quarter, and who have been there for the past 10 years...some of them aren't "cheap" either.
People buy cheap stuff in recession; Hyundai had the right product for the right price (incentives) at the right time.
no, when times are tight, people look more for value (which is one of Hyundai's strengths, and why they were set to do well during a recession)...that means, getting the features you need/want, good quality (because you can't afford unexpected repairs), and fair pricing.
This is not to minimize the merits of Hyundai and their new products; they are indeed good and very competitive, but I believe that the major challanges are ahead. If they continue to grow while the economy improves and the competition gets even tougher, then they are onto something.
i agree, the major challenges do lie ahead...however, if you look at where they are right now, and the products set to launch this year (along with the products recently launched as part of their current product line), they are looking very solid...their current line-up (and new models to be released) all include every safety feature as standard equipment in all trims, all vehicles are very good in terms of fuel economy (many often lead the segment), are nice looking and get strong praise for fit/finish and content, especially for the price (most people say they look/feel like they should be $10k MORE than they are)...with increased fuel economy guidelines coming in 2015, Hyundai is certainly a brand that is being recognized for investing in improvements in this area...lighter weights, newer technologies being used in this price of vehicles (DI, twin-scroll turbo, etc), more aerodynamic shapes, more efficient components in the vehicle (high efficiency alternators, etc), timing chains (to reduce maintenance costs down the road), etc...these are all things that Hyundai has done to set themselves up for continued success.
My doubt is about the long-term sustainability of their agressive pricing/incentives. Obviously they still rely on 0% and other incentives to move thier cars; 0% comes out of the launch pad or shortly after for their new models.
Hyundai is still associated with 0/60/72/84. How can that strategy drive an increase in resale value, I don't know?
resale is all relative...perhaps on the main reasons why brands like Toyota and Honda have such high resale amounts, is simply due to the REAL cost of purchasing them...sure, the Civic and Corolla were about the same MSRP (or similar) to a Cobalt or an Elantra, but where you could get the Cobalt or Elantra for 0/84, the Civic/Corolla was 5.9/60...that means you are spending thousands more for the Civic/Corolla, not because it is a "better car", but simply because the actual cost to buy the car was higher due to its interest rate...so, instead of getting that well equipped Cobalt or Elantra for $22k all in, the Civic/Corolla ends up being $26k due the difference in incentives...so, when you look at a 3 year old model and see the Cobalt and Elantra selling for $12k and the Civic selling for $16, in either case, you have "lost" $10k in value, but in the case of the Cobalt/Elantra, you only had to pay $22k instead of $26k for essentially the same thing...that extra "$4k" you are spending to by the Civic/Corolla isn't because of the "car", it is the cost the person who bought it paid for it...the selling is thinking, this car cost me $26k to buy, so my selling price is $16...the real losers are going to be brands like Toyota and Honda, who are now resorting to 0/60 offers to move cars, because people are catching on that their products aren't really as good as they were perceived to be (yes, they are still good) but people are paying more attention to real value, rather than perceived value.
Sure, anyone can make predictions, but they are just that...predictions; I wouldn't put too much weight on them.
that is the same with everything...but as i said, i will pay more for a better CAR, but not more just because it cost more to finance than another car that is equally as good.
