Eight Kia dealers earn Customer Reputation Award

Eight Kia dealerships have been awarded the 800 Award by Reputation.com, each achieving more than 800 points out of 1,000.

Reputation scores dealerships using criteria ranging from including customer reviews across websites with relevancy, time response and length of reply, search engine optimisation (SEO), social media engagement, likes and shares.

These are then used to gauge a business and its online customer experience and satisfaction reputation with an overall score out of one thousand.

The result showed Kia dealerships ranked more than any other brand in Reputation’s ‘800 Club’ top 40.

Drayton Motors Kia (Louth) achieved a score of 889, Gravells Kia (Abergavenny) 863, Gravells Kia (Narberth) 857, Ken Jervis Kia (Stoke-on-Trent) 846, Vertu Kia (Bradford) 841, Acorn Kia (Crewe) 836, T C Autos Kia (Omagh) 835 and Roadside Garages Kia (Coleraine) achieved 832.

Kia Motors UK retailers Ken Jervis, Gravells and Drayton Motors recently scored a hat-trick of Institute of Customer Service (ICS) accreditation – each achieving a ‘ServiceMark with Distinction’.

Drayton Motors was the subject of an AM dealer profile feature at the start of COVID-19 lockdown last year, with MD Darren Bradford revealing how his business was 'cultivating success' with a rural Kia franchise.

The group recently expanded into a third Kia site with the acquisition of Victor Wood Group, in Grantham.

Kia’s collective 191 dealerships across the UK have an average of 675 across Reputation, higher than the automotive industry average of 562, according to Kia.

Gravells managing director, Jonathan Gravell, joined the panel for AM's Regional Heroes webinar.

His business has also expanded with Kia recently, expanding into England with a sixth Kia Motors UK dealership in Hereford.

Simon Hetherington, commercial director at Kia UK, said: “The entire Kia dealer network works tirelessly to put customers first and this is true recognition of their considerable efforts.

“Congratulations to each of the dealers that have earned Reputation’s ‘800 Award’ and long may their success continue.”

Joe Fuca, Reputation CEO, said: “We are excited to congratulate Kia UK Limited on receiving Reputation's 800 Award.

“Reaching a Reputation Score of 800 is a best in class milestone that we're proud to recognise as a badge of customer experience excellence.”