HERNDON, VA - Volkswagenof America, Inc. announced they have received the most segment-level awards from the J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study. The Volkswagen Tiguan, CC, Passat, and GTI all ranked highest in the respective segments, each capturing APEAL awards. Additionally, the Jetta came in second in the compact car segment, and the all-new, European tuned, seven-passenger Routan came in second in the minivan segment.

"It is quite an honor for Volkswagen of America to receive more awards than any other automaker in the J.D. Power and Associates 2009 APEAL Study," said Mark Barnes, chief operating officer, Volkswagen of America, Inc. "Earning four segment-level APEAL awards further demonstrates Volkswagen's commitment of producing high quality, fuel efficient, and fun-to-drive models that continue to appeal to our owners," added Barnes.

The APEAL Study examines how gratifying a new vehicle is to own and drive, and is based on owner evaluations of more than 90 vehicle attributes. The 2009 APEAL Study is based on responses gathered between February and May 2009 from more than 80,900 purchasers and lessees of new 2009 model-year vehicles who were surveyed after the first 90 days of ownership.

"Throughout the years, vehicle models achieving high APEAL scores have been shown to benefit from faster sales, less need for cash incentives, and higher profit margins on each vehicle sold," according to J.D. Power and Associates.

For more information on Volkswagen, visit www.vw.com. 

For more information on J.D. Power and Associates, visit www.jdpower.com/.