Question marks in the headline can mean only one thing: it’s time for you to weigh in! In lieu of Light Friday today, and based on some new findings, we’re considering anew the better-car-quality question: Asian or American?
As the global automotive industry continues to evolve, the used-to-be-Big Three have been under intense competitive pressure from foreign-based firms while enduring high labor costs at home. Lately, though, the Detroit, Mich., companies seem to be doing better when compared to what seemed like a Japanese juggernaut.
Yesterday, J.D. Power & Associates announced the results of its 2008 Initial Quality Study. Overall quality has improved to 118 problems per 100 (PP100) vehicles in 2008, down from 125 PP100 in 2007. The study, which serves as an industry benchmark for new-vehicle quality measured at 90 days of ownership, concludes that overall initial quality has improved considerably, with gains shared across most manufacturers.
J.D. Power & Assoc. has determined that 86 percent of the overall improvement is due to advances in eliminating defects and malfunctions. However, minimizing design problems remains a major challenge for the industry, particularly as new technology — such as navigation and entertainment devices — is becoming increasingly common in today’s new vehicles.
But what really stands out is this: two American cars, the 2008 Chevrolet Malibu (General Motors) and Ford Fusion, were in the top three in the mid-size car segment!
This follows Consumer Reports‘ latest Annual Car Reliability Survey concluding with Ford’s improvement and Toyota’s slipping in reliability.
So what’s going on here? Are American cars catching up with the Japanese, or are the Japanese getting worse? Are both improving but American automakers have retaken control of setting the pace? Or is it simply that so many people’s expectations for American cars are so low?
Email |
Print |
Post Comment
Follow Discussion
Recommend 
See More Comments
See Less Comments
Browse IMT by Date
Browse IMT by Date
Japanese are so far ahead of our lazy American companies. While American companies are always thinking about turning up profit for this quarter, the Japanese are interested in building a better quality product.
Japanese are more in touch with reality then American companies.
I want Light Friday.