Automotive Quality: Perception vs. Reality

摘要

The nation's car makers are facing a twin-turbo-sized challenge: consistently improving quality and standards on the shop floor while battling misperceptions about vehicle dependability in the court of public opinion. Such was the gist of the newly released J.D. Power and Associates U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study, a U.S. market-based survey providing insights into quality and reliability as vehicles approach the end of a typical warranty cycle.1 One of the study's main findings: despite overall industry improvement in long-term dependability, some vehicle brands don't receive the credit they're due. The study found that while 25 of 36 vehicle brands (nearly 70%) have improved in long-term dependability in 2010, consumer perceptions of some of these brands have not kept pace with their actual performance.