J.D. POWER: FORD
BRAND NOW HAS THE HIGHEST
INITIAL QUALITY AMONG
ALL NON-LUXURY BRANDS
IN THE INDUSTRY
among all non-luxury brands in J.D.
Power and Associates’ 2010 Initial Quality Study (IQS).
The Ford brand moved to fifth place
among all brands from eighth last year. This is the highest
rank position Ford has achieved in the IQS since ranking 23rd in 2004.
Both the Ford and Lincoln brands
demonstrated significant improvements, with the Ford brand
moving to the best in the industry among all non-luxury brands.
list last year, now sits at eighth.
The Ford brand, which continues to
outpace the overall industry’s quality improvement, has
posted nine consecutive years of
gains in the closely watched quality study, based on consumer
evaluations after the first three
months of new-vehicle ownership.
“These results are remarkable in
many ways,” said Bennie Fowler, Ford group vice president,
Global Quality & New Model
Launches. “Steady and meticulous attention to new model
launches along with consistency in
how we do them across the brand and the globe are having a
very positive effect on the initial
quality of our all-new or redesigned products. These results are
a true testament to the strength of the One Ford plan.”
Some of Ford’s most popular
nameplates received top honors for their respective segment,
including Ford Focus, Taurus and
Mustang. As a company, Ford has eight models in the top
three positions within their
respective award segments. The company’s Hermosillo Assembly
Plant also received the Silver Plant
Quality Award for outstanding quality in manufacturing.
J.D. Power and Associates 2010
Initial Quality Study is based on responses from more than
82,000 new 2010 model-year vehicle
owners after they have driven their new vehicles for three
months. It measures problems per 100
vehicles and was based on November through February
registrations.
“The blue oval is becoming
synonymous with high quality,” Fowler said. “While we are pleased
with where we are today, our job is
not done. Our plan is to keep improving quality each and
every year.”
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