Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[J.D. Power releases sat-nav study findings, crowns Ford tops]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/07/jd-power-releases-sat-nav-study-findings-crowns-ford-tops/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/07/jd-power-releases-sat-nav-study-findings-crowns-ford-tops/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/07/jd-power-releases-sat-nav-study-findings-crowns-ford-tops/#commentsFiled under: ,



Not only does Ford rank number one on J.D. Power and Associate's 2009 navigation system survey, it ranks number two as well. The top ranking system, according to Power's study, is the one found in the Lincoln MKS, followed by a nearly identical system (if not 100% identical) in the Ford Flex. And get this, Ford took down five of the top ten spots with the F-150 coming in fourth and the Escape and Edge taking seventh and eighth place, respectively.

To anyone that's driven a modern Sync-equipped Ford with navigation, these survey results probably won't come as any sort of shock, as FoMoCo has been making some of the best systems in the business ever since they released Sync with Sirius Travel Link. Here's what Ford user interface design engineer Jason Johnson had to tell us about why Ford got ranked tops:
"I think what really makes our system stand out is the fact it's designed with the user in mind. Yes, it has all the features you'd expect from a high-level navigation system -- the 3-D maps, the digital jukebox, the customizable home screens, and of course we pride ourselves on SYNC and SIRIUS Travel Link -- but it's more than that. This system is easy to use. It's intuitive. The buttons are where you'd expect them to be, the grouping is logical and the graphics are bright and easy to read. Everything is integrated, so it all works together, simply and easily."
Non-Ford top ten nav-system finishers include the Acura TL (third), Porsche 911 (fifth), Cadillac CTS (sixth), Hyundai Genesis (ninth) and Infiniti FX-series (tenth). Interestingly, Ford is the only non-luxury/premium brand to make it into the top ten. If you were wondering, seven of the bottom ten nav-systems were made by Toyota, with the Avalon finishing dead last. Complete results list and official press release available after the jump.
[Source: J.D. Power]

Continue reading J.D. Power releases sat-nav study findings, crowns Ford tops

J.D. Power releases sat-nav study findings, crowns Ford tops originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 Dec 2009 09:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>FlexFordFord FlexFordFlexJ.D. PowerJ.d.PowerJD PowerJD Power and AssociatesJdPowerJdPowerAndAssociatesLincolnLincoln MKSLincolnMksMKSNavigationsat-navsatnavSiriusSirius Travel LinkSiriusTravelLinkSyncMon, 07 Dec 2009 09:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Hyundai Genesis wins inaugural J.D. Power Vehicle Launch Index study]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/22/hyundai-genesis-wins-inaugural-j-d-power-vehicle-launch-index/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/22/hyundai-genesis-wins-inaugural-j-d-power-vehicle-launch-index/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/22/hyundai-genesis-wins-inaugural-j-d-power-vehicle-launch-index/#commentsFiled under: , ,


2009 Hyundai Genesis sedan - Click above for high-res gallery

The metric-meisters over at J.D. Power and Associates have announced that they have added yet another automotive study to their arsenal. This time out, JDP has launched its inaugural Vehicle Launch Index, which seeks to measure how new vehicles perform within their first eight months on the market.

J.D. Power says that its VLI integrates such factors as "turn rate, vehicle revenue, dealer gross profit, incentive spend, credit quality and residual value." In addition, the study also makes use of automaker provided figures on model mix, incentive spend, supply levels, as well as utilizing some of the company's other survey results to add vehicle quality and design elements into the results.

So... which model is tops in meeting this balancing act? The 2009 Hyundai Genesis with a score of 689 (out of 1,000 possible points), beating out Ford's F-150 (673) and Volkswagen's Tiguan (663). For reference, the study ranks the industry's average score as 582. At the other end of the spectrum, vehicles like the Toyota Matrix, Dodge Ram, Pontiac Vibe, and Dodge Journey all scored poorly. Check out the full results in the press release after the jump.


Gallery: Review: 2009 Hyundai Genesis


Photos copyright (C)2009 Michael Harley/ Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: J.D. Power]

Continue reading Hyundai Genesis wins inaugural J.D. Power Vehicle Launch Index study

Hyundai Genesis wins inaugural J.D. Power Vehicle Launch Index study originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 22 Jul 2009 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car qualityCarQualityHyundaiHyundai GenesisHyundaiGenesisJ.D. PowerJ.d.PowerJD POwerJDPJDPowerstudysurveyVehicle qualityVehicleQualityWed, 22 Jul 2009 15:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Hyundai trumps BMW and Jaguar in J.D. Power 2009 APEAL study]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/16/hyundai-trumps-bmw-and-jaguar-in-j-d-power-2009-apeal-study/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/16/hyundai-trumps-bmw-and-jaguar-in-j-d-power-2009-apeal-study/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/16/hyundai-trumps-bmw-and-jaguar-in-j-d-power-2009-apeal-study/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,


Click above for a gallery of the graphics from J.D. Power and Associates

Porsche grabs the top spot for the fifth year in a row in the J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Automotive Performance, Execution, and Layout (APEAL) Study. For this year's study, the team at JDPA gathered information from more than 80,900 purchasers and lessees of new 2009 model-year cars and questioned them on more than 90 vehicle attributes. Their studies examined "how gratifying a new vehicle is to own and drive," based on those evaluations.

While the APEAL nameplate ranking is significant (Porsche, Jaguar, and Cadillac round out the top-three), the segment winners offer more insight into what today's buyers are seeking. This year, it appears to be the newly launched models including the Volkswagen CC, Nissan Maxima, Dodge Challenger, and Ford Flex... each took top honors in their respective category. This year's biggest upset comes in the "Midsize Premium Car" segment as the all-new Hyundai Genesis (sedan) knocks the BMW 5 Series from the podium. Check out the gallery for the graphics, and read the full press release after the break.


Gallery: 2009 J.D. Power APEAL Results



[Source: JDPower.com]

Continue reading Hyundai trumps BMW and Jaguar in J.D. Power 2009 APEAL study

Hyundai trumps BMW and Jaguar in J.D. Power 2009 APEAL study originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 16 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2009APEALBMWDodge ChallengerDodgeChallengerFord FlexFordFlexHyundai GenesisHyundaiGenesisj.d. powerj.d. power and associatesJ.D. Power.comJ.d.PowerJ.d.Power.comJ.d.PowerAndAssociatesJDPALexusResearchStudyVolkswagen CCVolkswagenCcThu, 16 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Does brake dust affect a car's quality? J.D. Power thinks so (w/POLL)]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/14/does-brake-dust-affect-a-cars-quality-j-d-power-thinks-so-w/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/14/does-brake-dust-affect-a-cars-quality-j-d-power-thinks-so-w/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/14/does-brake-dust-affect-a-cars-quality-j-d-power-thinks-so-w/#commentsFiled under: ,



When wheels are covered with brake dust, the entire car looks dirty and in many cases, a basic wash will do little to rectify the problem. Most associate brake dust as a mere nuisance, but others actually see the sight of pad particles as a fundamental problem with the functionality of a vehicle's brakes. That may sound a bit strange to some, but J.D. Power seems to agree that brake dust is indeed a quality problem.

The long-running quality survey added brake dust as one of its 228 quality concerns back in 2006 in response to several survey-takers filling in "brake dust" as a write-in complaint. David Sargent, vice president for automotive research at J.D. Power, told The New York Times that brake dust is given the same weight as serious mechanical malfunctions. The reason, says Sargent, is that customers don't feel that brake dust is "trivial," and while malfunctions can be repaired, brake dust lingers for a very long time.

When asked by The Times why brake dust is even on a quality survey, Sargent mentioned that the survey gauges consumer perception, adding "the purpose of the study is to report back problems as defined by consumers."

Conversely, Consumer Reports does not use brake dust as a quality issue. Vehicle testing head Mark Champion admitted to the Times that cleaning brake dust is annoying, "but it is not actually a failure of the brakes." What say you? Hit the jump to take part in our poll.

[Source: NY Times Wheels Blog]

Continue reading Does brake dust affect a car's quality? J.D. Power thinks so (w/POLL)

Does brake dust affect a car's quality? J.D. Power thinks so (w/POLL) originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 14 Jul 2009 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brakebrake dustbrake padbrake padsbrake problemsBrakeDustBrakePadBrakePadsBrakeProblemsbrakesconsumer reportsConsumerReportsj.d. powerJ.d.Powerjd powerJDPJdPowerquality studyQualityStudyTue, 14 Jul 2009 11:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Lexus leads, Hyundai improves, while Infiniti drops in J.D. Power 2009 Initial Quality Study]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/22/lexus-leads-hyundai-improves-while-infiniti-drops-in-j-d-powe/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/22/lexus-leads-hyundai-improves-while-infiniti-drops-in-j-d-powe/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/22/lexus-leads-hyundai-improves-while-infiniti-drops-in-j-d-powe/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,


Click above for a gallery of the graphtastic images from J.D. Power and Associates

J.D. Power and Associates has released its 2009 Initial Quality Study (IQS) and Lexus has taken the top spot away from Porsche, the initial quality leader for the past three years. The annual J.D. Power study measures IQS based on problems reported per 100 vehicles (PP100) -- a lower score means a lower rate of problem incidences and higher quality.

This year, the industry average is 108 PP100, demonstrating a steady improvement from 118 PP100 in 2008, and 125 PP100 in 2007. In addition to the marked improvement by the industry overall, many brands continued to perform well in 2009. Following Lexus and Porsche is Cadillac (which moves from 10th rank position in 2008 to third in 2009), Hyundai (jumping from 13th rank position in 2008 to 4th in 2009) and Honda (up from 7th in 2008 to 5th in 2009). Infiniti, second in last year's study, drops to 11th overall, while Suzuki posts the largest improvement in ranking, moving from 32nd place in 2008 to 9th in 2009. The complete J.D. Power press release and charts can be found after the jump and in the gallery below.


Gallery: 2009 J.D. Power IQS Results



[Source: J.D. Power and Associates]

Continue reading Lexus leads, Hyundai improves, while Infiniti drops in J.D. Power 2009 Initial Quality Study

Lexus leads, Hyundai improves, while Infiniti drops in J.D. Power 2009 Initial Quality Study originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 22 Jun 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingCadillacInitial QualityInitial Quality StudyInitialQualityInitialQualityStudyIQSJ.D. PowerJ.D. Power and AssociatesJ.d.PowerJ.d.PowerAndAssociatesJDPALexusPorscheQuality RankingQualityRankingMon, 22 Jun 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[J.D. Power study shows people interested in new car tech, but not if they have to pay for it]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/09/j-d-power-study-shows-people-interested-in-new-car-tech-but-no/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/09/j-d-power-study-shows-people-interested-in-new-car-tech-but-no/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/09/j-d-power-study-shows-people-interested-in-new-car-tech-but-no/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Smaller, cheaper electronics have been a boon for the auto industry, as car technology has boomed over the past few years. J.D. Power has been studying the tech trend, surveying over 19,000 potential car buyers to gauge interest in new tech like nav systems and infotainment systems. The powerful research company found that customers are now far more tech-savvy than they were in the past, and they're also very interested in adding new features to their next car purchase. That's great news for automakers, but unfortunately (and unsurprisingly), many aren't interested in paying for the new features.

J.D. Powers found that 67% of those surveyed were interested in a navigation system. But when the average price of $1,600 was revealed, the number dropped to only 20%. Luxury buyers were a bit more interested, though only 45% of those surveyed would still opt for the interactive LCD. Cheaper off-board navigation services like On-Star or Ford's SYNC direction service weren't very good alternatives, either. Only one-third of those who were interested in navigation would go the off-board route, even though the systems have proven to be very effective and easy-to-use. We're guessing that part of the allure of the LCD nav is that it makes the whole dash look more high-end.

Customers are also very interested in utilizing their MP3 players in the car. Nearly two-thirds wanted the ability to listen to their music players in the car, while 27% wanted "smart phone" music connectivity. Of those who already use their music devices in their car, over half use an auxiliary jack, and 20% use an FM transmitter. Hit the jump to pour over the J.D. Power press release.

[Source: J.D. Power]

Continue reading J.D. Power study shows people interested in new car tech, but not if they have to pay for it

J.D. Power study shows people interested in new car tech, but not if they have to pay for it originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 09 Jun 2009 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>infotainmentj.d. powerJ.d.Powerjd powerJdPowernav systemNavSystemon-starTue, 09 Jun 2009 11:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Chicago 2009: The blogosphere has been engaged [w/VIDEO]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/16/chicago-2009-the-blogosphere-has-been-engaged-w-video/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/16/chicago-2009-the-blogosphere-has-been-engaged-w-video/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/16/chicago-2009-the-blogosphere-has-been-engaged-w-video/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Dutch Mandel from AutoWeek, Terry Rhadigan from GM, John Neff from Autoblog and David Thomas from Kicking Tires (l-r)
It's not often that we report on ourselves, but our own illustrious editor-in-chief, John Neff (third from the left in the snazzy corduroy sport jacket his grandma got him last Christmas), participated in a symposium titled "Engaging the Blogosphere" at this year's Chicago Auto Show. It was a look at what the internet, and blogging in particular, means to the future of automotive journalism and marketing. Anchored by a brief analysis of the power of the internet on new car buyers, the event ended with a panel discussion that included representatives from "traditional media," an OEM, a car buying site and our own little professional blog. While the discussion produced some heated debate, it also helped put some outdated misperceptions of blogging to rest.

Follow the jump to read the whole story and learn what happened to shake up the room during the panel discussion. We've also embedded a video of the panel discussion so you can see for yourself what went down.

NOTE: We deliberately resisted the urge to add speech bubbles to the image above, so feel free to download a copy, add your own and post a link to it in the comments section of this post.

Continue reading Chicago 2009: The blogosphere has been engaged [w/VIDEO]

Chicago 2009: The blogosphere has been engaged [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 Feb 2009 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2009 chicago auto show2009ChicagoAutoShowblogospherechicago 2009chicago auto showChicago2009ChicagoAutoShowengaging the blogosphereEngagingTheBlogospherej.d. powerJ.d.Powerjd powerJdPowerMon, 16 Feb 2009 19:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Honda tops J.D. Power website usability survey for second straight year]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/26/honda-website-tops-j-d-power-usability-survey/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/26/honda-website-tops-j-d-power-usability-survey/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/26/honda-website-tops-j-d-power-usability-survey/#commentsFiled under: , ,



More and more people are shopping online for their new car or truck, making automaker's websites an increasingly important part of the automotive buying experience. Honda seems to get that, as evidenced by its recent win in a new J.D. Power usability survey. The Power study measures website usefulness during the new-vehicle shopping process. New vehicle shoppers evaluate websites based on appearance, speed, navigation and content.

Honda won the award for the second straight time, thanks in part to improved navigation and continued ease of use. Honda's score of 882 out of 1,000 reflects a 16 point improvement over last summer's ranking, and now the site sits 42 points above Power's industry average. Honda was followed in the top five by Porsche, Mitsubishi, Kia, and Acura. The far less distinctive bottom five includes Jaguar, Pontiac, Audi, SMART, and Scion. Hit the jump to view the complete J.D. Power usability survey.

[Source: J.D. Power]

Continue reading Honda tops J.D. Power website usability survey for second straight year

Honda tops J.D. Power website usability survey for second straight year originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Jan 2009 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hondaJ.D. PowerJ.d.PowerJD PowerJdPowerSurveyWeb designweb developmentWebDesignWebDevelopmentWebsite designwebsite qualitywebsite usabilityWebsiteDesignWebsiteQualityWebsiteUsabilityMon, 26 Jan 2009 19:01:00 EST<![CDATA[JD Power: Honda leads industry in customer retention]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/11/jd-power-honda-leads-industry-in-customer-retention/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/11/jd-power-honda-leads-industry-in-customer-retention/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/11/jd-power-honda-leads-industry-in-customer-retention/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click the image above to see J.D. Power and Associates Customer Retention Study

Honda has taken the top spot away from Toyota in the latest "Customer Retention Study" from J.D. Power and Associates. The global marketing information firm surveyed 147,238 buyers/lessees to determine how likely they were to replace their previously new vehicle with another from the same brand. Honda, for the first time, led the pack with a retention ranking of 64.7%, followed by Toyota (63.2%) and Lexus (60.4%). Mercedes-Benz (58.6%) barely edged BMW (58.5%) for the fourth position. The Germans are being chased by Ford (52.5%) and Chevrolet (52.0%). At the bottom of the list was Jaguar, struggling to retain just 26.2% of its customers (if you are a Jaguar salesman, there is apparently no need to send holiday cards this year).

While JDPA sites Honda's reputation for building safe vehicles with high resale values as instrumental in landing the headline position, they also note that fuel economy, ownership/maintenance costs, and deals/incentives play an increasingly larger role in the process. The firm projects 2009 new vehicle sales will plummet to below 12 million units in 2009, making customer retention more important now than ever before. Check out all of the rankings in the chart after the jump.

[Source: J.D. Power and Associates]

Continue reading JD Power: Honda leads industry in customer retention

JD Power: Honda leads industry in customer retention originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 Dec 2008 12:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Customer Retention StudyCustomerRetentionStudyj.d. powerj.d. power and associatesJ.d.PowerJ.d.PowerAndAssociatesJDPASurveyThu, 11 Dec 2008 12:58:00 EST<![CDATA[J.D. Power warns global auto market may "outright collapse" in 2009]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/10/j-d-power-warns-global-auto-market-may-outright-collapse-in-2/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/10/j-d-power-warns-global-auto-market-may-outright-collapse-in-2/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/10/j-d-power-warns-global-auto-market-may-outright-collapse-in-2/#commentsFiled under: ,

J.D. Power and Associates, the influential industry tracking firm, warned that the global auto market may "outright collapse" due to the lack of available credit and the general global economic conditions in 2009. According to the company, credit market restructuring, fewer leasing options, and declining owner equity are adding additional stress to an already burdened market. Don't turn to the automotive markets in China, Europe, or India either -- they are expected to slow next year as well. Much of the domestic sales decline is attributed to consumers delaying vehicle purchases (their studies indicate people are keeping their vehicles four months longer in 2008, compared to 2007). Other contributing factors are the drop in leasing activity, and the loss of fleet sales (down to 2.8 million from 3.3 million last year). While the automotive sales decline over the summer made this a buyer's market, willing consumers who venture into showrooms today are finding dealerships eager to sell, but banks aversive about lending.

[Source: Automotive News, subs. req'd]

J.D. Power warns global auto market may "outright collapse" in 2009 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 10 Oct 2008 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autocollapsedeclinefalGlobalj.d. powerj.d. power and associatesj.d.powerj.d.powerandassociatessalesslumpFri, 10 Oct 2008 16:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Lexus leads J.D. Power dependability for 14th straight year]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/07/lexus-leads-j-d-power-dependability-study-14th-year-straight/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/07/lexus-leads-j-d-power-dependability-study-14th-year-straight/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/07/lexus-leads-j-d-power-dependability-study-14th-year-straight/#commentsFiled under:


Click above for results 2008 J.D. Power Dependability Study

J.D. Power and Associates has just released its 2008 Vehicle Dependability Study that attempts to measure vehicle quality throughout the first three years of owning a vehicle, and for the 14th year in a row Lexus leads all manufacturers with a rating of just 120 problems per 100 vehicles (PP100). This year's runner up, surprisingly, is Mercury, though it's a distant second at 151 PP100. Cadillac (155 PP100), Toyota (159 PP100) and Acura (160 PP100) round out the top five spots for brands. Lexus also had the most segment leaders with six vehicles leading their respective category, while Toyota tacked on another five. The study also says that long-term vehicle quality has also improved 5% across the industry in 2008, with the industry average dropping 10 PP100 down to 206 this year.

The Vehicle Dependability Study is based on surveys taken of 52,000 original owners of 2005 model year vehicles. Take whatever stock you will in it, as some argue that subjectivity can skew the results. For instance, Lexus owners may tend to report that their vehicles are running just fine out of pride and loyalty to their brand. Nevertheless, J.D. Power's complete press release and results for the industry and each segment category can be found after the jump and in the gallery below.

Gallery: 2008 J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study


[Source: J.D. Power and Associates]

Continue reading Lexus leads J.D. Power dependability for 14th straight year

Lexus leads J.D. Power dependability for 14th straight year originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 07 Aug 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>j.d. powerj.d. power and associatesj.d. power vehicle dependability studyJ.d.PowerJ.d.PowerAndAssociatesJ.d.PowerVehicleDependabilityStudylexuslexus dependabilityLexusDependabilityThu, 07 Aug 2008 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[J.D. Power lowers U.S. sales forecast... again]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/25/j-d-power-lowers-u-s-sales-forecast-again/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/25/j-d-power-lowers-u-s-sales-forecast-again/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/25/j-d-power-lowers-u-s-sales-forecast-again/#commentsFiled under: ,

J.D. Power and Associates have lowered their U.S. sales light-vehicle forecast for 2008 to just 14.2 million units. This is the third time the global information services company have updated their numbers. In March, they announced that sales would not hit their initial 15.7 million estimate, instead they would come in at about 14.95 million units. Now, the company is estimating sales at 14.2 million units (the industry sold 16.2 million units in 2007). J.D. Power is citing the prolonged credit crisis, deteriorating economic conditions, and the high cost of fuel as reasons consumers are holding off on purchasing new vehicles. Not helping the matter, fleet sales (a common way for the automakers to boost sales in the past) are also down 21 percent from last year.

[Source: Automotive News, subs. req'd]

J.D. Power lowers U.S. sales forecast... again originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 25 Jul 2008 08:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DeclineForecastinventoryJ.D. PowerJ.d.Powerjd powerjd power and associa...jd powersJdPowerJdPowerAndAssocia...JdPowersNumbersSaleFri, 25 Jul 2008 08:02:00 EST<![CDATA[J.D. Power and Associates predict even lower U.S. vehicle sales]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/19/j-d-power-and-associates-predict-even-lower-u-s-vehicle-sales/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/19/j-d-power-and-associates-predict-even-lower-u-s-vehicle-sales/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/19/j-d-power-and-associates-predict-even-lower-u-s-vehicle-sales/#commentsFiled under: ,

We really didn't expect good news... J.D. Power and Associates, the global information services company who seem to have highly regarded insight within the industry, is predicting auto sales this year to hit short of their original estimates. According to the firm, declining consumer confidence, lower spending, and turbulent financial and economic market conditions will contribute to an anticipated drop in new light-vehicle sales in 2008 that will put total sales at their lowest level since 1994.

U.S. light-vehicle automotive sales as recently as 2000 and 2001 topped 17 million units and retail sales last year were a more disappointing 16.2 million units. It was originally assumed that sales in 2008 would even lower, at 15.7 million units. Now, weak retail and fleet sales have driven that number down to J.D. Power's estimate of 14.95 million units.

Press Release after the jump.

[Source: J.D. Power and Associates]

Continue reading J.D. Power and Associates predict even lower U.S. vehicle sales

J.D. Power and Associates predict even lower U.S. vehicle sales originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 19 Mar 2008 08:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auto salesauto sales 2008AutoSalesAutoSales2008J.D. Powerj.d. power and assoc...j.d. power ratingsJ.d.PowerJ.d.PowerAndAssoc...j.d.powerandassociatesJ.d.PowerRatingsWed, 19 Mar 2008 08:02:00 EST<![CDATA[American automakers top JD Power's website rankings]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/28/american-automakers-top-jd-power-s-website-rankings/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/28/american-automakers-top-jd-power-s-website-rankings/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/28/american-automakers-top-jd-power-s-website-rankings/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

J.D. Power & Associates, the biggest name in rating everything related to buying and owning cars, has released its rankings of automaker websites. The ratings, which J.D. Power releases twice a year, takes into account the feedback of more than 11,000 online new car shoppers over the course of two months, basing their scores on user-friendliness, content and overall appearance.

While you'd be forgiven for thinking that Japanese companies would have the best websites in the industry, this half's survey placed American automakers at the top of the list yet again. GM's HUMMER division retained its place at the top, just two points ahead of Lincoln. Kia came in third ahead of Honda and Mazda which tied for fourth, while Jeep, Acura, Lexus, Saab and Toyota rounded out the Top 10. We visit our fair share of automaker websites and have found some to be more intuitive than others. Your thoughts are welcome in the comments below.

[Source: JDPower.com via Winding Road]

American automakers top JD Power's website rankings originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Jan 2008 18:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>j.d. powerj.d. power and associatesJ.d.PowerJ.d.PowerAndAssociatesMon, 28 Jan 2008 18:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Buick ties Lexus for top spot in JD Power 2007 Vehicle Dependability Study]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/09/buick-ties-lexus-for-top-spot-in-jd-power-2007-vehicle-dependabi/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/09/buick-ties-lexus-for-top-spot-in-jd-power-2007-vehicle-dependabi/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/09/buick-ties-lexus-for-top-spot-in-jd-power-2007-vehicle-dependabi/#commentsFiled under: ,

You would expect Lexus to be No. 1 in vehicle dependability, just like it has been in J.D. Power's Vehicle Dependability Study for the past 11 years. It is No. 1 again for 2007, but for the first time, Lexus has tied with another automaker for the top spot, and you'll never guess who it is - Buick.

Three-year old (2004) Lexus and Buick vehicles each scored 145 problems per 100 vehicles, the lowest scores of all automakers in the study. The results kind of make you wonder when we're going to cut our own domestic automakers some slack and begin admitting they're turning things around, building better, longer-lasting vehicles. Also consider that Cadillac (162) took the third spot, and Mercury (168) the fourth. Honda (169), meanwhile, earned the fifth spot.

Though Buick ranked highest among nameplates, none of its vehicles managed to earn the highest ranking in their respective segments. (Whoops, one did. The Buick Century was highest ranked Midsize Car.) Lexus vehicles, however, led five categories, the most for any nameplate. Its parent company, Toyota, also added an additional four vehicles that led their segment, while Ford, Honda and... what?... Oldsmobile each had two vehicles that led their segments. Remember, this study focuses on 2004 model year vehicles, which means Oldsmobile was still operating when these cars were built. The Bravada and Silhouette each led their segments in dependability, which likely means those workers building Oldsmobiles near the end took pride in their work.

Feel free to check out all the rankings as posted by J.D. Power in our gallery below.

[Source: J.D. Power]

Gallery: J.D. Power 2007 Vehicle Dependability Study

Buick ties Lexus for top spot in JD Power 2007 Vehicle Dependability Study originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 Aug 2007 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>buickdependabilityj.d. powerJ.d.Powerjd powerJdPowerlexusThu, 09 Aug 2007 14:29:00 EST<![CDATA[New car buyers: diesels, yes, hybrids, hmm...]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/17/new-car-buyers-diesels-yes-hybrids-hmm/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/17/new-car-buyers-diesels-yes-hybrids-hmm/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/17/new-car-buyers-diesels-yes-hybrids-hmm/#commentsFiled under: , ,

T

The J.D. Power and Associates Alternative Powertrain Study has found that hybrid consideration among new car buyers is slipping, albeit only slightly. At the same time, the willingness to consider a clean diesel is growing. Overall, 7% fewer buyers are adding a hybrid to their list of potentials, but in the 16-25 age group the drop is actually 13%. For some reason, the hybrid message is getting lost on the people just entering the car buying market. One possible reason could be that, according to the study, buyers wanted to pay no more than $2,396 extra for a hybrid over a traditional competitor, but get 18.5 mpg more. As those shoppers have discovered that hybrids can't provide that cost/benefit ratio yet, they are perhaps staying with the standard option. It's not much different in the diesel category, with folks willing to pay $1,491 and expecting 15 mpg better. However, the perceived benefit of diesels is opposite that of hybrids -- hybrids could be coming down off the pedestal, while more people are realizing that diesels are fuel efficient and, finally, clean.

[Source: J.D. Power and Associates]

New car buyers: diesels, yes, hybrids, hmm... originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 Jul 2007 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dieselhybridj.d. powerJ.d.PowerstudiessurveysTue, 17 Jul 2007 17:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Honda has APEAL: wins most segments in JD Power's rankings]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/02/honda-has-apeal-wins-most-segments-in-jd-powers-rankings/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/02/honda-has-apeal-wins-most-segments-in-jd-powers-rankings/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/02/honda-has-apeal-wins-most-segments-in-jd-powers-rankings/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Honda took four categories in the latest J.D. Power's 2007 Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study. APEAL measures how happy an owner is with the design, content, layout, and performance of their car within 90 days of purchase. When the votes were tallied from the 91,000 respondents, Honda won with the Fit (Sub-compact), CR-V (MAV), Ridgeline (Mid-size pickup), and Odyssey (Van), beating Mercedes and BMW who both took three categories each.

Among the domestics, Ford was the only winner, with the Mustang and the Edge. According to J.D. Power, new or redesigned vehicles tend to score the best, and that cars that score well in the APEAL Study need lower incentives to lure buyers. And in case you were wondering, closely following another study that took the same measure of owner happiness, the Jaguar S-Type did not make the list this time.

[Source: J. D. Powers]

Honda has APEAL: wins most segments in JD Power's rankings originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 02 Jul 2007 07:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>APEALawardawardsJ. D. PowerJ.D.PowerresearchstudyMon, 02 Jul 2007 07:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Ford dominates J.D. Power and Associates 2007 Initial Quality Study]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/06/ford-dominates-j-d-power-and-associates-2007-initial-quality-st/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/06/ford-dominates-j-d-power-and-associates-2007-initial-quality-st/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/06/ford-dominates-j-d-power-and-associates-2007-initial-quality-st/#commentsFiled under: ,



Hot on the heels of the 2007 Strategic Vision Total Quality Awards, J.D. Power and Associates has released its 2007 Initial Quality Study. You'll no doubt be hearing about how well Ford has done in this year's IQS, as J.D. Power reports the Blue Oval has garnered five top model segment awards, more than any other automaker. Those models include the Ford Mustang, Lincoln Mark LT, Lincoln MKZ, Mercury Milan and the Mazda MX-5.

Indeed, Ford did very well this year, with the Lincoln brand improving from 12th place to 3rd, Mercury from 17th to 8th and Ford jumping from 16th to 10th. We take umbrage, however, with J.D. Power choosing to include the Mazda MX-5 in Ford's list of segment leaders. Ford owns a controlling 33% stake in Mazda, but doesn't include the Japanese brand's sales among its own at the end of the month, and neither does the Japanese-built MX-5 share its plaform with any other Ford models. And, while rattling off how well each Ford brand ranked, J.D. Power doesn't mention that Mazda ranked 35th, second to last ahead of Land Rover, another Ford brand. Still, even without including the MX-5, Ford's four segment leaders is still more than any other automaker. Mercedes-Benz and Toyota each had three.

J.D. Power also gives out Assembly Plant Awards, and in a surprising twist of fate, Ford's Wixom assembly plant that shut its doors forever this past week became the first North American assembly plant to earn the Platinum Plant Quality award for producing vehicles with the fewest defects. We suppose that means 2007 Lincoln Town Car owners are in for some trouble-free times with their cars.

You can check out the complete rankings in the gallery below and read the official press release from J.D. Power and Associates after the jump.

[Source: J.D. Power & Associates]

Gallery: JD Power and Associates 2007 Initial Quality Study

Continue reading Ford dominates J.D. Power and Associates 2007 Initial Quality Study

Ford dominates J.D. Power and Associates 2007 Initial Quality Study originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 Jun 2007 15:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Initial Quality StudyInitialQualityStudyIQSJ.D. PowerJ.D. Power and AssociatesJ.d.PowerJ.d.PowerAndAssociatesJD PowerJD Power and AssociatesJdPowerJdPowerAndAssociatesWed, 06 Jun 2007 15:54:00 EST<![CDATA[J.D. Power reports Toyota ranks highest in customer retention]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/06/j-d-power-reports-toyota-ranks-highest-in-customer-retention/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/06/j-d-power-reports-toyota-ranks-highest-in-customer-retention/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/06/j-d-power-reports-toyota-ranks-highest-in-customer-retention/#commentsFiled under: ,

J.D. Power and Associates released its 2006 Customer Retention Study today, and to no one's surprise Toyota tops the list. The Japanese automaker averages a 63.9 percent customer retention rate, which means that of people who purchase a Toyota vehicle, about 64 percent purchase another one as their next vehicle. Toyota actually beat out its own brethren this year, narrowly replacing Lexus (63.2%) at the top of the list. This news isn't surprising, merely because Toyota's image of quality and customer service has been gaining momentum along with its sales. It is just an image, though, as the reality of Toyota's quality and customer service at the moment is arguably much different than its rosy reputation suggests. Nevertheless, Toyota has somehow managed to sear a positive image of itself on the collective consciousness of consumers, which we believe artificially boosts its performance a bit in the marketplace, as well as in studies like this one.

Overall J.D. Power and Associates reports that customer retention is declining across the auto industry, having fallen from 49.6 percent in 2003 to 47.9 percent this year. This makes perfect sense when you consider that the market for great vehicles has never been more competitive and new model classes, like the CUV, are pulling customers away from their trusted brands to try out new offerings.

You can follow the jump for a look at J.D. Power's press release and see a graph that shows see how each brand ranked.

[Source: J.D. Power]

Continue reading J.D. Power reports Toyota ranks highest in customer retention

J.D. Power reports Toyota ranks highest in customer retention originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 Dec 2006 18:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>J.D. PowerJ.d.PowerloyaltyretentiontoyotaWed, 06 Dec 2006 18:12:00 EST<![CDATA[New standards for heavy-duty diesels means more problems]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/10/06/new-standards-for-heavy-duty-diesels-means-more-problems/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/10/06/new-standards-for-heavy-duty-diesels-means-more-problems/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/10/06/new-standards-for-heavy-duty-diesels-means-more-problems/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Those looking for a glimpse into the future of light-duty diesel reliability may be interested in a new study by J.D. Power on customer satisfaction with modern heavy truck powertrains. The 2006 Heavy Duty Truck Engine/Transmission Study ranked engines from the 2004 model year by quality, performance, cost of ownership, and warranty, and revealed what one would reasonably expect from new technology.

An average of 74 problems per 100 vehicles was reported, which represents a 60% increase in trouble over the prior year. This was attributed directly to the emission control systems that were phased in during 2003 and 2004. Fuel economy also declined from 6.04 MPG in the 2004 study to 5.72 MPG - a drop of over 5%. Ranked highest in the study was Caterpillar, and the company's ACERT technology allowed the C12 and C15 (pictured above) to lead the ratings of individual engines. Unfortunately, unless you hold a CDL, it's highly unlikely that either one of them will find their way into your personal fleet.

So, what does this mean for consumers of passenger vehicles? Just as we've experienced the evolution of emission controls on gasoline engines, problems can be expected as manufacturers roll out clean diesel technology. How long it will take to sort out these issues is not yet clear, but we're guessing that things get sorted out rather quickly, and indeed some of the problems that are currently affecting heavy trucks may very well be eliminated before it trickles down to smaller oilburners.

[Source: J.D. Power; the complete press release is posted below the jump]

Continue reading New standards for heavy-duty diesels means more problems

New standards for heavy-duty diesels means more problems originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 06 Oct 2006 08:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>caterpillarclean dieselcumminsdetroit dieselduramaxemissionsj.d. powerJ.d.Powerjd powerpowerstrokequalitysatisfactionsuvtditruckwarrantyFri, 06 Oct 2006 08:04:00 EST