• Hyundai brand ranked first for the third time since 2010 and 2011
• Excellent results in durability tests ensure very high ratings
• Hyundai i30 rated best-ever endurance-tested vehicle
• Quality Report evaluates data of 20 automotive brands in Germany

Ranked first for the third time in seven years: Hyundai Motor has been awarded first place in Auto Bild's Quality Report 2016 and has secured one of the most coveted accolades in the automotive industry. Following its top rankings in 2010 and 2011, Hyundai Motor has succeeded against its competitors in Germany once again. The in-depth evaluation of quality and reliability, including customer feedback, a customer survey and extensive testing, is conducted annually by Germany's best-selling motoring magazine.

The overall result is extremely positive for Hyundai Motor. The brand recorded a total score of 2.14 on the scale of five. "That was a successful performance. Well done, Hyundai!" was the verdict of the testing team. Hyundai Motor achieved the first place for the third time in seven years, moving up two places from its third-place ranking last year. The magazine was particularly impressed by the endurance testing of the Hyundai models. A Hyundai i30 underwent testing over 100,000 kilometres, scoring a "1", which made it the best-ever of Auto Bild’s endurance-tested vehicle. Judging by the interim findings of endurance tests currently in progress, the Hyundai i30 is certainly not an exception. Auto Bild comments: "Hyundai can be justly proud of the improvements in quality achieved over the past few years. The extent to which the cars' feelgood factor has improved is currently underscored by the i10 and the Tucson, both of which are popular fleet vehicles and have each run up 30,000 kilometres with no sign of a fault." 

"Quality is a key element in Hyundai's brand strategy, as embodied in our industry-leading peace-of-mind 5 Year Unlimited Mileage Warranty. The first rank in Auto Bild's Quality Report is a powerful endorsement of Hyundai Motor's experience and technological development, underscoring our ambition to become the number one Asian brand in Europe by 2020," says Thomas Schmid, Chief Operating Officer at Hyundai Motor Europe.

Auto Bild has been assessing the long-term quality and dependability of the leading automotive brands in its Quality Report since 2001. One core element is the customers’ satisfaction with their respective vehicles. The magazine evaluates all recalls and rectifications which proved necessary in the course of the year and also factors in the results of the report issued by the Technical Inspection Authority (TÜV) responsible for the statutory general inspection of vehicles. The overall score includes the findings of the 100,000-kilometre endurance tests from Auto Bild's own database and also the results of the workshop tests. Another source of information is the volume of complaints from readers, which shows the degree to which motorists are satisfied with their purchases and serves as a clear indication of the recurring defects. Customer satisfaction is analysed by a survey undertaken among 8,575 car owners by the Forsa opinion research institute. Finally, Auto Bild evaluates the duration and content of the warranties and guarantees offered to buyers of new vehicles.