Frost & Sullivan Presents the 2009 United States Automotive Technicians' Choice Award for Overall Best Brand of Automotive Batteries to Interstate Batteries
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Dec. 16, 2009 -- Frost & Sullivan recently named Interstate Batteries the 2009 U.S. Automotive Technicians' Choice: Overall Best Brand of Automotive Batteries award winner. An emerging leader in this category, Interstate Batteries tested high among U.S. automotive technicians based on Frost and Sullivan's independent research.
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The U.S. Automotive Technicians' Choice survey measures the best in the Automotive Replacement Parts market in the United States. All respondents were asked to rate each brand/manufacturer listed as well as any other brand/manufacturer they think should be represented. The Frost & Sullivan Choice Award is conferred on the company that is selected by the largest proportion of respondents. Award recipients are determined directly by the sample respondents' perception and views.
"The survey results showed that Interstate Batteries dominates the automotive battery category," says Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst Rolando Barrera. "One out of two U.S. automotive technicians (55 percent) chose Interstate Batteries, placing it above competitor, AC Delco, which garnered just 12 percent of the votes."
This is no surprise, as Interstate Batteries was the preferred brand by nearly the same proportion of U.S. Automotive Technicians in both 2007 and 2008. Eight out of ten U.S. automotive technicians (82 percent) make or influence automotive battery brand purchase decisions. Among these informed decision makers, "quality" is the most important purchase criteria (97 percent). Yet most impressively, among these decision makers, 55 percent report intentions to re-purchase Interstate batteries.
Many technicians expressed high satisfaction with Interstate Batteries in terms of quality and battery maintenance. Interstate Batteries provides maintenance through 300 distributors and 1,000 route sales managers. The specialized attention to products ensures that all Interstate batteries start the first time, proving the brand's outrageous dependability. However, if an Interstate battery needs to be replaced before its expired time, representatives offer hassle-free warrantees, which require no forms, and battery replacement on-the-spot.
Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents the Automotive Technician's Choice Award to the company that demonstrates excellence and distinguishes itself through its proactive strategies that position it to emerge as an industry leader.
The study is spearheaded by Frost & Sullivan's Competitive Benchmarking Services, a division of the Customer Research team that conducts independent, non-sponsored research among end-users to evaluate and measure companies that are top performers for their products, processes and services. Specifically, respondents to Competitive Benchmarking Services surveys are deemed experts (i.e., CEOs, CIOs, Automotive Technicians, Paint Contractors, etc.) in the wide range of industries that Frost & Sullivan supports.
Frost & Sullivan's Best Practices Awards recognize companies in a variety of regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analysis, and extensive secondary research in order to identify best practices in the industry.
About Interstate Batteries
Founded in 1952 and based in Dallas, Texas, Interstate Batteries is comprised of a privately held group of companies who sell, market and distribute all types of batteries and related products. Its member companies operate retail All Battery Center stores, provide franchising opportunity and support, and distribution through a state-of-the-art distribution center in Des Moines, Iowa. Interstate Batteries also provides products and services for motive and critical power needs through PowerCare Service and Solutions, Inc. Interstate Batteries is "#1 in Batteries," best known for its system of nearly 300 distributors who service more than 200,000 locations selling automotive, marine/RV, commercial and other types of SLI products throughout the United States, Canada and select international locations.
Since Interstate's beginnings, recycling batteries has been a key part of the services the company offers. Last year alone, Interstate returned more than a billion pounds of lead-acid batteries to government-regulated smelters across the United States for recycling. Interstate Batteries also offers batteries and information online at InterstateBatteries.com.
About Frost & Sullivan
Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, enables clients to accelerate growth and achieve best-in-class positions in growth, innovation and leadership. The company's Growth Partnership Service provides the CEO and the CEO's Growth Team with disciplined research and best-practice models to drive the generation, evaluation, and implementation of powerful growth strategies. Frost & Sullivan leverages over 45 years of experience in partnering with Global 1000 companies, emerging businesses and the investment community from 40 offices on six continents. To join our Growth Partnership, please visit http://www.frost.com/.
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