NEW YORK — Newsweek magazine has named TBC Corp.'s Midas International franchise business the top automotive repair brand in the automotive aftermarket category in its special report, "America's Best Customer Service 2019."
Meanwhile, Discount Tire Direct was voted the top online tire and wheel "manufacturer," and RockAuto L.L.C. was named the top online auto parts retailer in the survey.
Midas finished ahead of Icahn Automotive's AAMCO franchise business and Bridgestone Americas Inc.'s Firestone Complete Auto Care retail business.
The survey, which involves a large array of customer-service entities, is available by clicking here.
Newsweek said it developed the rankings based on an independent survey of more than 20,000 U.S. customers who were asked whether they would recommend brands to friends or family. Respondents assessed brands on their communications, technical competence, service range, customer focus and accessibility.
According to the magazine, more than 130,000 evaluations were collected.
Midas, whose motto is "Always a Touch Better," was launched in 1956 as a while-you-wait muffler installation. In the 1980s, the company began to offer nationwide, lifetime-guaranteed brake service.
According to the company, Midas rebuilt customer trust in the industry a decade later by launching its Motorist Assurance Program and introducing guidelines for technician/customer relations.
TBC Corp. acquired Midas in 2012.
"I congratulate and commend our franchisees and their teams for their commitment to Midas processes — and earning this well-deserved recognition," Midas Vice President and GM Ron Seagle said.
"Thanks to their dedication, we continued to build trust in the Midas Touch throughout 2018, growing the number of customers that walked through our doors and cars in our bays."
Discount Tire Direct was first in the online tire/wheel category, followed by Tire Rack and Element Custom Wheels & Tires, a Chandler, Ariz.-based custom wheel distributor.
In the online auto parts retailer category, RockAuto was favored over AutoZone Inc. and Auto Parts Warehouse of Carson, Calif.