Two-wheeler sales in India are expected to reach 14.8 million units in 2014 and J D Power Asia Pacific expects this industry growth to lead to intensify customer expectations for two-wheeler products in terms of both quality and reliability.

Higher customer expectations will present challenges for two-wheeler manufacturers striving to grow their customer base and increase profitability in this highly competitive industry. Against that backdrop, J D Power Asia Pacific will launch two new studies next year: the 2015 India Two-Wheeler Initial Quality Study (2W IQS) and the 2015 India Two-Wheeler Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (2W APEAL) Study.

Both independent studies, which are scheduled for release in January 2015, will survey verified owners of two-wheelers to gain insights into their shopping behaviour and their overall experience after two to six months of ownership.

While the India 2W IQS will measure the quality of two-wheelers by examining the problems experienced during initial ownership, the India 2W APEAL Study will identify and evaluate the features and product attributes that delight two-wheelers owners.

“The studies are a natural extension of the actionable insights that we have been providing to passenger car industry for years, which will now be offered to the two-wheeler industry,” said Mohit Arora, executive director at J D Power Asia Pacific, Singapore. “Our two-fold objective is to provide independent assessment of customer experience to two-wheeler manufacturers and to offer   two-wheeler buyers product quality and customer satisfaction data that enables them to make more-informed purchase decisions.”

The studies will include two-wheelers in the 80cc- to 500cc range in four motorcycle and two scooter segments from the major two-wheeler brands in India.