FI showroom red and grey logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Japanese Carmakers Stage Loyalty Comeback in Q1, Experian Reports

Japanese automakers make strong post-earthquake/tsunami corporate loyalty comeback in Q1 2012, according to Experian Automotive market trend analysis.

by Staff
July 24, 2012
3 min to read


Schaumburg, Ill. — Experian Automotive today announced that Toyota Motor Corporation and Honda Motor Company made strong comebacks in corporate loyalty in Q1 2012 after seeing their respective rankings drop significantly after the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

According to the Experian Automotive industry market trends and loyalty report, Toyota finished third in overall corporate loyalty, with 45.7 percent of their customers who returned to market during Q1 2012 purchasing or leasing another Toyota vehicle. Toyota’s corporate loyalty ranking had dropped to 41.8 percent in Q2 2011, the first full quarter after the earthquake and tsunami. Honda’s corporate loyalty was 42.1 percent in Q1 2012, after falling to 36.4 percent in Q3 2011.

Ad Loading...

Overall, General Motors Co. and Ford Motor Co. finished first and second in corporate loyalty during Q1 2012 at 48.4 percent and 47.4 percent, respectively.

“While General Motors and Ford continue to battle for the top spot in corporate loyalty, Toyota and Honda were both able to significantly tighten the race in the first quarter of 2012,” said Jeffrey Anderson, Experian Automotive’s director of analytics and consulting. “After the earthquake and tsunami, the Japanese OEMs suffered significant production disruptions, and many of their customers opted to go to another manufacturer when they returned to market. The drop in corporate loyalty appears to have been a temporary phenomenon, however, as their corporate loyalty is returning to pre-earthquake levels.”

Chrysler Group LLC, which saw its corporate loyalty ranking rise from 32.6 percent in Q1 2011 to 36.2 percent in Q1 2012, posted the biggest gains overall in unit sales (up more than 115,000 units) and market share, as it picked up an additional 2.4 percentage points.

“Chrysler continues to gain momentum, thanks in part to the strong performance of the Chrysler 200, which grew its sales by more than 22,000 units,” Anderson said. “The Jeep and Ram brands also continue to exhibit strong sales, as Chrysler now has a more balanced portfolio of passenger cars and light trucks to help hedge against fluctuations in fuel prices.” Japanese automakers make strong post-earthquake/tsunami corporate loyalty comeback in Q1 2012, according to Experian Automotive market trend analysis Page 2 of 2

Other highlights from Q1 2012 include:

Ad Loading...

The redesigned Volkswagen Passat was the top-selling new vehicle entry, at more than 24,000 units. The Chevrolet Sonic was second, at more than 21,000 units.

The Ford Focus, Nissan Altima and Toyota Camry were the top three fastest-growing vehicles in unit registration, with increases of more than 29,000, 26,000 and 25,000 respectively.

Ford had seven of the top 10 models for brand loyalty, led by the Ford Fusion at 61.1 percent.

GM had the steepest decline in market share, at 1.7 percent.

Complete findings from the Q1 2012 Experian Automotive industry market trends and loyalty report will be presented in a Webinar on July 25 at 11 a.m. Pacific time/1 p.m. Central time/2 p.m. Eastern time. If you would like to attend the event, visit http://www.ExperianAutomotive.com.

 

More F&I

Photo of a keyring with mltiple keys, including a car key fob, on a white surface
F&IJuly 15, 2026

Integrating Nontraditional F&I Products

The niche presents a strategic advantage for auto dealerships as they move to adapt to fast-changing consumer expectations in today’s market.

Read More →
Photo of businessman's hands holding eyeglasses at a desk
F&Iby Rick McCormickJuly 7, 2026

Trust Is Personal

Technology, no matter how efficient, can’t replace what the human F&I manager can do, which is to bridge the divide between cyberspace and the in-store experience.

Read More →
Photo of executive in a sports coat and glasses
Industryby StaffJuly 2, 2026

Amplify 2026 Billed as Turning Innovation Into Results

Reynolds and Reynolds says its annual retail summit will connect dealers with practical strategies, peer insight, and technology-driven ideas.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Woman standing on stage smiling.
F&Iby Lauren LawrenceJuly 1, 2026

Own Your Outcome: F&I in the Digital Customer Journey

Finance has historically been the last step in the car-buying process, but it doesn’t have to be. The customer’s journey starts long before they arrive at the dealership, and so should F&I’s involvement.

Read More →
$100 bill and magnifying glass on top of paper that says insurance policy terms and conditions.
F&Iby Lauren LawrenceJune 29, 2026

Tariffs Could Raise Insurance Premiums

As U.S. import tariffs affect repair costs, consumers might find it more affordable to replace a damaged vehicle, according to recent Insurify tariff analysis.

Read More →
Red toy car sitting on top of coins.
Auto Financeby Lauren LawrenceJune 24, 2026

Smaller Loans, Longer Terms

The youngest generation of car buyers is more likely to finance less expensive vehicles, more than half of generation Z consumers borrowing less than $25,000.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Under the hood of a Toyota Prius EV Hybrid car.
F&Iby StaffJune 15, 2026

New Lifetime Battery F&I Product Meant to Drive Dealer Traffic

EFG Cos. offering is intended to create lifetime auto dealer engagement with customers.

Read More →
Several illustrations of question marks on a surface
F&IJune 10, 2026

The Psychology Behind Menus That Increase Add-On Sales

There is a science to crafting a menu that gives customers confidence in the choices presented, and moving the process outside the F&I office can further boost results.

Read More →
Man holding magnifying glass over sales volume paper.
F&IMay 29, 2026

Why Your F&I PVR Is Misleading You

Here’s a handy checklist of the numbers to track in 2026 instead.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Photo of woman typing on a laptop as she sits on a couch
F&Iby Hannah MitchellMay 29, 2026

Auto Consumer Anxiety Presents Opportunity

A survey of U.S. drivers found the majority are concerned about finances and the economy, but those fears make many ready to buy vehicle-protection products.

Read More →