The car manufacturers' authorized workshops cannot shake off their expensive image: around 85 percent of car drivers believe that maintenance and repairs are more expensive at the manufacturer's workshops than at independent workshops. Only three percent of respondents believe that brand workshops are cheaper. This is the result of the Trend-Tacho study conducted by the expert organization KÜS and the trade magazine "kfz-betrieb".



When it comes to assessing workshop competence, the results of the survey are evenly balanced: just under half of respondents believe that brand-affiliated and independent service centers are more capable of carrying out maintenance and repair work professionally. However, 55 percent of drivers preferred the authorized workshops on their last visit and only a third preferred the independent workshops. People over 60 and owners of young cars (69%) in particular drive to the vehicle manufacturer's branded workshops for servicing.



When choosing a garage, 97% of respondents rated "competent advice and staff" and "friendly and honest staff" as the most important criteria. This is followed by the selection criteria "good accessibility of the workshop" (90%), "short-term appointments" (87%) and "lower prices for maintenance and repair work" (83%).



For 46% of drivers, the journey to their garage should take no more than 15 minutes. For 43%, the journey should take no longer than half an hour. And only five percent would take up to 45 minutes to take their car in for a service.



Workshop loyalty is relatively high at 89 percent. Only eleven percent of drivers have changed their garage in the last 24 months. 21 percent did so because they had bought a new car from a different garage. The garage prices were too high for 13 percent of those who switched.


Economic crisis influences choice of garage

Peter Schuler, Federal Managing Director of the testing organization KÜS, warns in this context: "Compared to last year, fewer drivers have been going to garages and independent workshops for servicing in 2010. Repairs carried out by drivers themselves and visits to quick service centers have increased. This clearly shows that drivers are watching every penny and choosing their garage according to their financial means. When it comes to choosing a garage, advice and staff competence are still at the top of the list of priorities. The contract-based and independent garages are likely to be well positioned here. But what will happen when consumers' wallets become emptier? Will they then prefer less competent companies that are cheaper, in line with the "cheap is cool" mentality? In any case, the economic crisis in the workshop business is not over yet, and we should be aware of that."



Further details such as graphics and the Trend-Tacho archive can be found on the Internet at www.trend-tacho.de. The complete Trend-Tacho study with all survey results can be ordered for 49 euros (incl. VAT) by e-mail at info@kfz-betrieb.de.

"kfz-betrieb" is the most widely read trade magazine in the automotive industry and has been informing the automotive trade and service sector for 99 years. "kfz-betrieb" is the official organ of the German Motor Vehicle Trade (ZDK), the professional interest group for around 39,000 car dealerships and workshops. Daily news from the entire automotive industry is available at www.kfz-betrieb.de and in the daily newsletter. The parent company Vogel Business Media is one of the leading German providers of specialist information with around 100 trade journals and 60 websites as well as numerous international activities. Its headquarters are in Würzburg.