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Honda, Maruti, Mahindra capture top rankings in total customer satisfaction
NEW DELHI: According to a recent study by NFO Automotive, Maruti models rank highest for Total Customer Satisfaction (TCS) in the small car petrol segments. Honda leads the midsize and entry luxury vehicles. In the highly competitive SUV segment, Mahindra Scorpio has overtaken the Toyota Qualis.
An official release states that the 2003 TCS is the largest automotive syndicated study in India. The sample base consists of 7,014 new-car buyers having up to three years of vehicle ownership. Analysis focusses on the performance of over 40 models in the key areas of sales satisfaction, product quality, vehicle performance and design, after-sales service, brand image, and cost-of-ownership. NFO Automotive is a specialty division within NFO WorldGroup, one of the world’s leading providers of marketing research insight and counsel.
Rankings for the TCS study are conducted at the vehicle segment level to provide comparisons among similar groups of vehicles. The models which lead their respective segments on the TCS index score are Maruti 800 (entry compact segment); Maruti Wagon-R (premium compact segment); Tata Indica Diesel (diesel small car segment); Hyundai Accent Petrol (entry midsize segment); Honda City (midsize segment); Ford Ikon Diesel (diesel midsize car segment); Skoda Octavia (premium midsize segment); Honda Accord (entry luxury segment); and Mahindra Scorpio (SUV segment). The TCS index score provides a measure of commitment a given model or brand enjoys with its customers.
NFO Automotive MG Rajeev Lochan added, “ The industry average TCS score has improved by three index points from 2002. Our analysis reveals that manufacturers are meeting their customers’ expectations in regards to product quality and vehicle performance, but fall short in the areas of after-sales service and cost of ownership”.
The study finds that managing customer expectations become increasingly challenging as the length of vehicle ownership increases. Compared to an average TCS score of 88 for 1 to 6 months owners, the score for post-warranty customers drops by nine index points to 79. “Honda and Maruti perform better than the industry in satisfying their customers throughout the ownership period with a relatively higher degree of consistency in both product quality and dealer service. It is not surprising to find that Honda and Maruti models enjoy a relatively stronger customer commitment among post-warranty owners who are closer to their next vehicle purchase” Lochan added.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
