TNS Reports: Automotive Companies Rated Highly for Corporate Social Responsibility in Emerging Markets
Shell Ranked Highest, Followed by the Two Volkswagen JVs in China
SHANGHAI, China, May 9 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Consumers in emerging markets expect automotive corporations to take an active role in the economic and social development of their country, according to recent findings from TNS Automotive, the world's largest automotive research company.
The 2006 Global Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) study, which was conducted in March and April across 16 countries, reveals that emerging markets such as Thailand, India, and China rate automotive related companies higher in regards to corporate social responsibility than mature markets of the west. The study attributes this to the general public's high ratings of the automotive sector in emerging markets for generating jobs and improving quality of life.
Chris Bonsi, regional director TNS Automotive explains:
"Thailand, India, and China have recorded phenomenal industry growth in the automotive sector and consumers in these markets see automotive related companies playing an integral role in the economic and social development of their country. Conversely, the governments of some emerging markets do not fully recognise the contribution of the automotive sector in generating jobs for their country -- in some cases, levying high taxes on the automotive sector because the end-products are seen to be luxury items that only a few can afford, without considering the jobs the sector creates for everyday people manufacturing, distributing, and servicing these products."
Bonsi adds, "For mature markets, consumers rate the automotive sector poorly on job generation and impact on the environment. Therefore, the strategies for corporations in improving their reputation for corporate social responsibility would need to vary depending on market maturity."
The Global CSR study was conducted by TNS to understand the general public's perception of the automotive sector in regards to compliance and contribution towards corporate, social, environmental, and philanthropic activities. Consumers were asked to rate corporations from the passenger car, commercial vehicle, motorcycle, tire, and oil sectors. All of the scores were indexed using TNS' globally recognized TRI*M stakeholder management system with the global average set to 100. Scores above one hundred indicate strong public goodwill towards the corporation.
Among the 45 companies surveyed in China, Shell ranked highest for corporate social responsibility with strong ratings for sustaining the environment through innovation and technology. Following closely behind Shell were the JV companies of Volkswagen -- Shanghai VW and FAW VW. Both Shanghai VW and FAW VW received very favourable ratings for manufacturing safe products and for improving the quality of life for people in China.
"Shell and Volkswagen look back to a quite long history of activities in China and enjoy a very good reputation. The results of the study clearly indicate that Chinese consumers acknowledge the contribution of the three companies to the formidable success of the automotive industry on the mainland", says Klaus Paur, Director Automotive at TNS China."
The study shows that consumers across the world are very likely to accept or reject a corporation based on its reputation for social and environmental responsibility. In China, nine out of ten consumers indicated that they were more likely to purchase a product or service from a corporation with responsible business practices while nine out of ten indicated that they would refrain from purchasing a product or service if the corporation failed to follow environmentally friendly or ethical business practices.
Klaus Paur, Director Automotive at TNS China explains, "These findings clearly show that values are important to consumers in China. Corporations that realise this and strengthen CSR activities will benefit from the goodwill they will generate with consumers in China."
Bonsi concludes, "The general public is a very important stakeholder for the automotive industry as a corporation's reputation is often judged in the court of public opinion. Corporations that fail to engage society often suffer serious consequences when there is a crisis. However, corporations that develop strong public goodwill can use this as 'social insurance' to tide them over during difficult periods. The CSR champions identified by this study are already seeing the value in their investment; now other companies, need to take notice."
Notes to Editor:
The TNS Automotive Global Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) provides an in-depth understanding of global perceptions of the general public towards automotive corporations. The report is based responses from over 16,000 consumers in 16 major automotive markets. The TNS Global CSR study will be conducted on an annual basis to provide the industry with the most up-to-date information on the general public's perceptions of their CSR performance and the goodwill derived from their activities.
About TNS
TNS is a market information group:
-- The world's largest provider of custom research and analysis
-- A leader in political and social polling
-- A major supplier of consumer panel, media intelligence and TV and
radio audience measurement services.
TNS operates across a global network in over 70 countries, allowing us to provide internationally consistent, up-to-the-minute and high quality information and analysis.
The group's employees deliver innovative thinking and excellent service to local and multi-national clients worldwide. In the custom business, they combine in-depth sector knowledge with expertise in the areas of new product development, positioning and segmentation research, brand and advertising research and stakeholder management.
TNS' strategic goal is to be recognised as the global leader in delivering value added information and insights that help our clients to make more effective decisions.
TNS is the sixth sense of business. www.tns-global.com About TNS Automotive
TNS is a leading provider of Automotive research. Teams of researchers dedicated to the automotive sector combine in-depth market knowledge, the latest research techniques and sophisticated technology to provide immediate and informed market measurement, analysis and insight for all your research requirements, be they global or local, customised or syndicated, quantitative or qualitative. We act as your sixth sense of business.
This press release is provided for editorial use only. No advertising or other promotional use can be made of the press release without prior written approval from TNS (chris.bonsi@tns-global.com).
For further information, please contact: Shanghai: Melanie Stroehlein Tel: +86-21-6360-0808 Fax: +86-21- 6360-0908 Email: melanie.stroehlein@tns-global.com Gigi Yuan Tel: +86-21-63600808 ext 162 Fax: +86-21-6360-0908 Email: gigi.yuan@tns-global.com www.tns-global.com Singapore: Chris Bonsi Tel: +65-6355-8142 Fax: +65-6258-2672 Email: chris.bonsi@tns-global.com