What new-model shoppers think of a specific brand very well could be an indicator of how used-vehicle shoppers evaluate that badge, too.
So, Kelley Blue Book’s 2023 Brand Image Award winners could help dealerships shape their inventory for the remainder of the year and beyond.
Honda, Toyota and Tesla dominated the award categories that are calculated among in-market luxury, non-luxury, truck and electric vehicle (EV) shoppers who plan to purchase within the next 12 months.
KBB highlighted Tesla impressively swept nearly all the luxury brand awards.
Tesla won Best Overall Luxury Brand for the fourth year in a row, achieving the highest average score across all ratings of luxury models to win the award.
In addition, Tesla claimed the all-new 2023 Best Overall EV Brand award, which is calculated based on 12 factors of importance among all automotive brands that have at least one EV in their model lineup.
Tesla also took home specific awards this year for Best Value Luxury Brand and Most Refined Luxury Brand, claiming both honors for the fourth year in a row.
To round out its five Brand Image Award wins, Tesla claimed Best Performance Brand for 2023, topping last year’s winner Porsche.
KBB said Tesla’s several 2023 Brand Image Awards stemmed from the OEM’s “superior technology innovations, unparalleled performance, and its refined, striking designs.”
For the seventh time in the past 10 years, Honda claimed the Best Overall Brand accolade for 2023 among non-luxury automakers.