The impact of the Dieselgate vehicle emmissions scandal on customer equity in the South African automotive industry
- Authors: Pillay, Sylvester Deenan
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Automobile industry and trade -- Germany , Automobile industry and trade -- Law and legislation -- Germany , Automobile industry and trade -- South Africa , Automobiles -- Motors -- Exhaust gas , Brand choice -- South Africa , Customer preferences -- South Africa , Consumer satisfaction -- South Africa , Brand loyalty -- South Africa , Consumer behavior -- South Africa , Dieselgate
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/149304 , vital:38823
- Description: Prominent German automotive manufacturers had been tampering with emissions for some time before it became public knowledge in September 2015. It is then that that the term ‘Dieselgate’ was coined in reference to the scandal. As the scandal became public knowledge, manufacturers accused of emissions cheating faced challenges on several fronts, including legal, financial and environmental. While the ‘backlash’ as a result of the scandal was apparent in other countries, it was not as apparent in South Africa. This research paper set out to explore the impact that the Dieselgate scandal had in South Africa in terms of customer equity. Data analysis was undertaken using a two-pronged approach. The first of these was analysis of vehicle sales data using a paired t-test. This was to understand whether sales had seen a decline pre-, as well as post-scandal. The results point to a sales decline, this highlights that Dieselgate was a factor even though other, unexamined factors, were not investigated. The second instrument used was a customer equity questionnaire, this provided insight into the real opinions of consumers in South Africa about the affected brands. The analysis revealed that the affected manufacturers operating in South Africa had seen no negative effects in terms of customer equity. Based on the results, it could be said that market factors, which was not part of the research, play a great role in consumers’ preferences or mindsets. Additionally, manufacturers can operate with a degree of latitude in certain markets. This is based on market factors in a specific market as well as the regulations imposed and enforced in that market. Lastly, customer equity is a complex theory that includes a multitude of converging theories. Based on this fact, it is currently difficult to evaluate customer equity in its entirety in a single paper. A comprehensive model is yet to be developed that can effectively measure customer equity in an all-encompassing way.
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- Date Issued: 2020
Consumer perceptions of multiple private label brands offered by Pick n Pay stores
- Authors: Marriott, Andrew William
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Brand choice -- South Africa , House brands -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/5974 , vital:21021
- Description: This research provides insight into consumer perceptions of multiple private label brands being simultaneously offered by an individual retailer. The primary purpose of this study is to investigate the current consumer perceptions of the three private label brands at Pick n Pay Stores, a South African retailer. Consumers are no longer being presented with a single private label brand, but individual grocery retailers offer multiple private label brands under one retailer. Pick n Pay Store’s current private label brands co-exist as PnP no name, PnP and PnP Finest, and are synonymous with the generic, classic, and premium private label brand concepts, respectively. The question can thus be posed whether consumers perceive private label brands differently and whether they will eventually purchase the private label brand. The research explores the subject of brand, and the nature and success factors of private label brands in retail. This was done by reviewing the literature that traced the rapid changes in the retail sector because of the increasing influence of private label brands on conventional retail practices and consumer behaviour. A conceptual framework was developed showing the constructs that may have relationships with the three private label brands of Pick n Pay Stores. Information regarding the different private label brand concepts was obtained from primary as well as secondary research. An empirical study of a quantitative nature in the form of a paper-based and online-based questionnaire was undertaken. Altogether 375 usable questionnaires were collected. The results of the empirical study indicated positive relationships of perceptions between all three of the Pick n Pay private label brands and their respective intention to purchase. Furthermore, there was a statistically positive relationship between the brand perceptions of Pick n Pay private label brands. The proposed framework is intended to shed light onto the interactions between the private label concepts to allow for meaningful strategic branding decisions to be made at senior business levels.
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- Date Issued: 2014