Initial Quality Study: Ford scores high; Mercedes jumps
6/6/07, 01:43 PM
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Initial Quality Study: Ford scores high; Mercedes jumps
http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dl...4/1170&refsect=
Automotive News
June 6, 2007 - 1:37 pm
Ford Motor Co.'s Lincoln division broke into the top three of the J.D. Power and Associates 2007 Initial Quality Study, released today. But the biggest jump in rank came from Mercedes-Benz, which climbed to No. 5 this year from No. 25 in 2006.
Ford division and Mercury vehicles also jumped in the research firm's rankings. Mercury ranked eighth this year, moving eight spots higher. Ford moved five spots to 10th.
Ironically, Ford's Wixom, Mich., assembly plant, which recently closed, earned J.D. Power's Platinum Plant Quality Award for producing vehicles yielding the fewest defects. The research firm said Lincoln Town Cars produced there averaged 35 problems for every 100 vehicles.
In the study, Ford earned model segment awards for the Ford Mustang, Lincoln Mark LT, Lincoln MKZ and Mercury Milan. The Mazda MX-5 Miata also earned a segment award. Mazda is partially owned by Ford.
Mercedes-Benz improved its nameplate rank by 20 positions -- the greatest improvement of any nameplate in the study.
For the second year, Porsche topped the overall nameplate rankings, averaging 91 problems per 100 vehicles. Following were Lexus, Lincoln, Honda and Mercedes-Benz.
Honda - with the fewest problems per 100 vehicles among nonpremium brands - improved to fourth from sixth in the 2006 study and earned awards with the Civic and CR-V. Among nonpremium brands, Kia posted the largest improvement in ranking, moving from 24th in 2006 to 12th this year. Kia earned an award for the Kia Rio and Rio5 for the second year in a row.
The annual study measures new-vehicle quality at 90 days of ownership.
June 6, 2007 - 1:37 pm
Ford Motor Co.'s Lincoln division broke into the top three of the J.D. Power and Associates 2007 Initial Quality Study, released today. But the biggest jump in rank came from Mercedes-Benz, which climbed to No. 5 this year from No. 25 in 2006.
Ford division and Mercury vehicles also jumped in the research firm's rankings. Mercury ranked eighth this year, moving eight spots higher. Ford moved five spots to 10th.
Ironically, Ford's Wixom, Mich., assembly plant, which recently closed, earned J.D. Power's Platinum Plant Quality Award for producing vehicles yielding the fewest defects. The research firm said Lincoln Town Cars produced there averaged 35 problems for every 100 vehicles.
In the study, Ford earned model segment awards for the Ford Mustang, Lincoln Mark LT, Lincoln MKZ and Mercury Milan. The Mazda MX-5 Miata also earned a segment award. Mazda is partially owned by Ford.
Mercedes-Benz improved its nameplate rank by 20 positions -- the greatest improvement of any nameplate in the study.
For the second year, Porsche topped the overall nameplate rankings, averaging 91 problems per 100 vehicles. Following were Lexus, Lincoln, Honda and Mercedes-Benz.
Honda - with the fewest problems per 100 vehicles among nonpremium brands - improved to fourth from sixth in the 2006 study and earned awards with the Civic and CR-V. Among nonpremium brands, Kia posted the largest improvement in ranking, moving from 24th in 2006 to 12th this year. Kia earned an award for the Kia Rio and Rio5 for the second year in a row.
The annual study measures new-vehicle quality at 90 days of ownership.
6/8/07, 06:32 PM
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yeah this is incredible news. We've all known that Ford has stepped it up several notches for a while, but most of the public has not. Making a headline like this could very well be the turning point for Ford's downward spiral. I think from this point on, things are actually gonna start looking better for Ford.
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