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[Toyota reverses decision, chooses to again seek quality over market share]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/11/toyota-reverses-decision-chooses-to-again-seek-quality-over-mar/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/11/toyota-reverses-decision-chooses-to-again-seek-quality-over-mar/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/11/toyota-reverses-decision-chooses-to-again-seek-quality-over-mar/#commentsFiled under: , ,

It was back in 2002 when Fujio Cho, then-President of Toyota Motor Corp., set the company's goal of achieving a 15 percent share of the global automotive market sometime after 2010. Seven years ago, it didn't seem much of a stretch as the automaker had already captured 10.7 percent, and the seemingly-unstoppable company was rapidly growing.

While the Japanese automaker's train hasn't completely derailed, the self-imposed deadline looms and Toyota is reeling through a global slump that has served the company its first loss in decades. With market share taking a back seat to survival, current Toyota President Akio Toyoda (right) has dumped Cho's goal in favor of a back-to-basics focus on quality. And, nobody needs to point out that the automaker's latest forecast represents a production decline of nearly one million units compared to last year. An anonymous company executive summed the new president's directive up in just seven words: "Our president doesn't like figures or documents."

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

Toyota reverses decision, chooses to again seek quality over market share originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 11 Aug 2009 17:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Akio ToyodaAkioToyodaFujio ChoFujioChoMarket ShareMarketShareProfitQualitySalesSlumpToyotaTue, 11 Aug 2009 17:33:00 EST<![CDATA[VIDEO: What goes into German engineering - Audi's TechDay Quality]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/05/what-goes-into-german-engineering-audis-techday-quality/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/05/what-goes-into-german-engineering-audis-techday-quality/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/05/what-goes-into-german-engineering-audis-techday-quality/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Audi's TechDay Quality philosophy -- Click above to watch video

Why are German luxury cars so expensive? Because of German engineering. And what is this whole "German engineering" thing all about? That's the question Audi tries to explain once a year when it takes outsiders through its quality processes during its factory TechDay.

According to the Audi, the automaker's three main tenets are Value, Precision, and Fascination, and they all add up to Quality. This encompasses processes that go into making processes like reworking the fit of the gas tank cap to adjust for parallax error, using a scanning electron microscope for surface analysis, and an olfactory team to make sure things like leather smell right.

The video shows you what Audi does to get you that quality... and frankly, it looks like a lot more fun than the engineering bits. You can see the video and read a Joycean-length string of press releases after the jump. A host of high-res photos, including more shots of the A5 Sportback, are in the gallery below.


Gallery: Audi TechDay Quality 2009


[Source: Auto Scout (translated) via German Car Blog]

Continue reading VIDEO: What goes into German engineering - Audi's TechDay Quality

VIDEO: What goes into German engineering - Audi's TechDay Quality originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 05 Jul 2009 16:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>audiengineeringlifestylequalitysafetytechnologyvideoSun, 05 Jul 2009 16:11:00 EST<![CDATA[Chrysler vehicles 29% less broke than before]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/09/chrysler-vehicles-29-less-broke-than-before/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/09/chrysler-vehicles-29-less-broke-than-before/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/09/chrysler-vehicles-29-less-broke-than-before/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Automakers want top-notch quality in their vehicles because a good reputation for quality sell more cars. The pleasant side effect of high quality is spending less to repair your own vehicles. Millions of dollars can be saved per one percentage point improvement in warranty costs. Cerberus was quick to crack down on quality woes when it took over Chrysler, and the early fruit of its labor is hundreds of millions of dollars in warranty costs avoided. Chrysler cars and trucks are hitting the dealer less for repairs than before, which has resulted in a 29% drop in warranty claims for the automaker. That's good news for the cash-strapped automaker, and a big reason the privately owned company has earned $1.1 billion since the company's sale. The positive swing in warranty claims means Chrysler can appropriate less money for warranty claims in the future, giving it more money to spend on R&D, engineering, and, hopefully, interiors.

If you're asking yourself, "Aren't Chrysler products close to last in J.D. Power initial quality studies every year?" you're not alone. Chrysler does tend to fare poorly in those surveys, but they concentrate more on things like cup holders, fit and finish, and general interior quality, all of which don't necessarily cost a lot to fix. The Pentastar is going to de-emphasize J.D. Power results going forward, and instead focus on the arguably more influential Consumer Reports rankings. Unfortunately, the Chrysler vehicles haven't fared very well there either, but that can always change. Thanks for the tip, Mike!

[Source: Detroit Free Press, Photo by Scott Olson/Getty]

Chrysler vehicles 29% less broke than before originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 09 Sep 2008 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cerberuschryslerJD PowerJdPowerqualitywarranty costsWarrantyCostsTue, 09 Sep 2008 10:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Ford talks tough on quality, promises best-built small cars]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/11/ford-talks-tough-on-quality-promises-best-built-small-cars/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/11/ford-talks-tough-on-quality-promises-best-built-small-cars/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/11/ford-talks-tough-on-quality-promises-best-built-small-cars/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Click above for high-res gallery of the 2009 Ford Fiesta


Not wanting to take second place to anyone, especially Toyota, Ford is vowing that its new line of Euro small cars, including the new Fiesta and next-gen Focus, will launch in the U.S. with the best quality in the industry. That's the official word from Bennie Fowler, Ford's VP of Global Quality. To accomplish this goal for the 2010 model year, Ford will send a handful of UAW workers to Wayne State University where they will become certified "Six Sigma Black Belts" (a.k.a. quality experts with the coolest certification ever) and take their learned expertise back to the assembly plants. The industry average right now is about 1,300 problems per 1,000 vehicles. Ford is promising that its new line of small cars from Europe will have just 800 things gone wrong per 1,000 vehicles. It is a target that bests their Japanese rival, but it still leaves us wondering why they wouldn't just aim for zero problems?

Gallery: 2009 Ford Fiesta


[Source: The Detroit News]

Ford talks tough on quality, promises best-built small cars originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 Aug 2008 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Black BeltBlackBeltHigh QualityHighQualityLow issuesLowIssuesProblemsQualityQualtiySix SigmaSixSigmaToyotaUAWMon, 11 Aug 2008 12:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Ford touting quality equal to that of Toyota and Honda]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/07/ford-touting-quality-equal-to-that-of-toyota-and-honda/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/07/ford-touting-quality-equal-to-that-of-toyota-and-honda/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/07/ford-touting-quality-equal-to-that-of-toyota-and-honda/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The Bloomfield Hills, Michigan-based RDA Group has found that Ford is on par with top-level stalwarts Toyota and Honda when it comes to vehicle quality. Ford managed 1,284 "things-gone-wrong" (TGW) per 1,000 vehicles during the first three months of ownership this year, statistically matching the two top Japanese brands, which are tied at 1,250 TGW. Though it certianly won't be the last word in the ongoing debate as to who makes the best cars, it is at least a good sign for Ford. Perhaps what's most impressive is that 36 of 40 Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Volvo and Mazda nameplates improved this year versus 2007. Ford's performance in this study marks an eight-percent improvement over the previous year, at which time they were tied with Toyota, but trailing industry-leader Honda. While Ford is glad to see quality improving, every automaker would surely like to sit alone at the top of the quality rankings, and Ford is no different.

Ford builds some pretty good vehicles these days, but faces a large perceived quality gap, as only 41-percent of consumers consider Ford vehicles according to their own internal data. For that reason, expect Ford to tout these new quality findings as part of their Drive One campaign.

[Source: Ford]

Ford touting quality equal to that of Toyota and Honda originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 Apr 2008 17:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fordford drive oneford qualityford-drive-oneford-qualityFordDriveOneFordQualityqualityrda grouprda-groupRdaGroupMon, 07 Apr 2008 17:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Ford's quality turnaround leads to free money]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/12/02/fords-quality-turnaround-leads-to-free-money/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/12/02/fords-quality-turnaround-leads-to-free-money/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/12/02/fords-quality-turnaround-leads-to-free-money/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Ford's quality record at the beginning of this decade was so bad, the automaker was spending billions on warranty repairs, while simultaneously turning off potential buyers in droves. The blue oval has been righting the ship for the past couple of years, with vehicles like the Fusion and Taurus leading a quality renaissance that has the automaker nipping at the heels of its Japanese competition. That quality improvement has been cutting losses, with $900 million in savings achieved in 2007, and more on the way. The embattled automaker is forecasting an additional $300 in savings for 2008, which means Ford is expecting additional quality improvement. The money will eventually be used to finance new product, but for now the cash infusion is merely stemming Ford's substantial North American losses. There is little doubt that newer models like the Edge and Milan are far more reliable than what Ford was making even three or four years ago. The trick will be to convince the public to forgive Ford for its past woes and give the automaker another chance.

[Source: Detroit News]

Ford's quality turnaround leads to free money originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 02 Dec 2007 13:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Consumer ReportsConsumerReportsFordJD PowersJdPowersLincolnMercuryQualityToyotaSun, 02 Dec 2007 13:07:00 EST<![CDATA[New Ford study is evidence of improving quality]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/18/new-ford-study-is-evidence-of-improving-quality/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/18/new-ford-study-is-evidence-of-improving-quality/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/18/new-ford-study-is-evidence-of-improving-quality/#commentsFiled under: ,

Many of us in the know, i.e. auto enthusiasts, are well aware that our domestic automakers have made significant strides in improving the quality of the cars and trucks they sell. We also know that it's been extremely difficult to shake their reputation of shoddy quality that may have been deserved in the past, but is becoming less so by the day.

Ford revealed today that it has taken steps to provide some objective data to support improvements in quality that are beginning to pay off. In conjunction with RDA Group, a market research firm based in Bloomfield Hills, Ford has released details of the Global Quality Research System (GQRS) report, a survey of 31,000 new vehicle owners. The survey focused on 2007 model year cars and trucks and asked participants to list any problems experienced within the first 90 days of ownership.

Normally we would question a study about vehicle quality that was associated with a particular automaker, as there are some pretty clear conflicts of interest that could taint the results. However, the results of this study appear not to favor Ford in particular, as Honda was found to be the best brand when it comes to new car quality, earning a TGW score of 1313 "things gone wrong" per 1,000 vehicles. Ford's TGW score of 1,456, which includes both Lincoln and Mercury vehicles, placed it in a virtual three-way tie for second place with Toyota (1,453) and Nissan (1,456). The victory is a bit more significant for Ford than Toyota or Nissan since it represents an 8% improvement for the domestic manufacturer over last year, which is well ahead of the industry's average improvement of 2%.

After the jump you'll find out how some individual models scored on the survey.

Thanks for the tip, Scott!

[Source: Ford, Detroit News]

Continue reading New Ford study is evidence of improving quality

New Ford study is evidence of improving quality originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 18 Apr 2007 16:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fordmercury milanMercuryMilanqualitysurveyTGWthings gone wrongThingsGoneWrongWed, 18 Apr 2007 16:08:00 EST<![CDATA[Aw, Snap! Ford delays release of Edge and MKX]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/15/aw-nap-ford-delays-release-of-edge-and-mkx/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/15/aw-nap-ford-delays-release-of-edge-and-mkx/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/15/aw-nap-ford-delays-release-of-edge-and-mkx/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



Ford informed its dealers yesterday that the Edge and Lincoln MKX crossovers will not arrive at dealership in mid- to late-November as previously planned, but would instead be delayed a couple of weeks until at least December. Joe Hinrichs, Ford's vice president of North American manufacturing, said in an interview that there are "some hiccups in the launch curve." The Edge and MDX MKX are already being built at Ford's Oakville, Ontario plant and completed units number in the thousands. It sounds like the assembly line is being slowed or even stopped because of these undefined "hiccups". Though Ford will lose valuable selling days in the month of November, we think the Blue Oval made the right decision to delay these crossovers until it's confident they can be pumped out with no problem. Ford needs to prove the successful launch of the Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln Zephyr wasn't a flash in the pan, and an initial batch of Edge and MKX crossovers that have quality problems would do more damage than this delay.

[Source: Automotive News]

Aw, Snap! Ford delays release of Edge and MKX originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 15 Nov 2006 22:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>delayEdgeMDXproductionqualityWed, 15 Nov 2006 22:52:00 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<![CDATA[Jaguar tops German quality survey]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/09/18/jaguar-tops-german-quality-survey/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/09/18/jaguar-tops-german-quality-survey/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/09/18/jaguar-tops-german-quality-survey/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

You know when automotive journalists write articles for fun listing headlines you never thought you'd see on the printed page? Headlines like "Porsche builds SUV" or "Volkswagen to offer uber luxury car" come time mind... oh, wait... yeah, bad examples. No joke here, however - this post's headline is true. Jag has secured the top spot in a reader poll done by Germany's Auto Zeitung magazine that rated 33 brands in product quality, reliability and service. The British cat jumped up four spots from last year, in fact.

This could be a case of "the grass is always greener," as the 30,000 Germans polled picked British-built Jaguar over their own Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Audi, surprisingly enough. It's is a small bright spot for Ford as it sifts through debt and layoffs this week, as well as a bright spot for Jaguar, whose days could be numbered as a member of Ford's Premier Automotive Group, according to some industry experts.

[Source: Channel4]

Jaguar tops German quality survey originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 18 Sep 2006 19:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>automotive industryAutomotiveIndustrygerman carsGermanCarsgermanyjaguarqualityMon, 18 Sep 2006 19:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Cars making a comeback, Camry leading the way]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/28/cars-making-a-comeback-camry-leading-the-way/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/28/cars-making-a-comeback-camry-leading-the-way/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/28/cars-making-a-comeback-camry-leading-the-way/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



Automotive News is reporting that the 2007 Toyota Camry could be the first car to break 450,000 sales in one year since the Chevy Impala did it back in 1978. That is, if Toyota's production capacity can meet the challenge. Currently there are reports of people following car carriers with Camrys right to the dealership and Toyota is dealing with a short 10-day supply of cars for those dealers. Not only is the Camry selling well (41,892 sales in July, more than the Nissan Altima and Pontiac G6 combined), but it's selling at an even higher price than its predecessor with no incentives or rebates luring in customers. They're coming of their own free will, apparently with wallets splayed and at the ready. The average transaction price of a Camry is now $22,558, up from $22,378 in April, and dealers are making money on them, sometimes getting within $500 of the vehicle's sticker.

Toyota's challenge in ramping up production, however, is to ensure that quality doesn't suffer. Automotive News reports that some Camry owners have already begun complaining about the same hesitation experienced under low-speed acceleration that dogged owners of the just-launched all-new Toyota Avalon last year. Several Technical Service Bulletins have already been issued by Toyota, which is not uncommon for any vehicle on the market, that address such problems as an issue with the snap ring on the car's 6-speed automatic, a shift flare issue for a small number of cars and some reports of harsh downshifting by owners of the four-cylinder automatic Camry. Toyota, for its part, has begun reassuring Camry owners on message boards and forums that any and all issues are being addressed.

[Source: Automotive News via Autoweek]

Cars making a comeback, Camry leading the way originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Aug 2006 11:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>camrycapacitydealerdealersdealershipdealershipsproductionqualityMon, 28 Aug 2006 11:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Ford tacks on another two years to powertrain warranties]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/07/13/ford-tacks-on-another-two-years-to-powertrain-warranties/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/07/13/ford-tacks-on-another-two-years-to-powertrain-warranties/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/07/13/ford-tacks-on-another-two-years-to-powertrain-warranties/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Ford Motor Company is sweetening its warranty with an extra two years of powertrain coverage for its 2007 vehicles, Automotive News reports. The deal that covers all Ford and Mercury brand vehicles supplements the three-year, 36,000 bumper-to-bumper with a five-year, 60,000 mile powertrain warranty, while the powertrain warranty on Lincoln vehicles ups the coverage to six years and 70,000 miles. Free roadside assistance extends along with the new powertrain warranties.

The move is Ford's effort to provide customers with more value and fend off quality issues.

[Source: Automotive News]

Ford tacks on another two years to powertrain warranties originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 13 Jul 2006 15:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fordinsurancepowertrain warrantyPowertrainWarrantyqualityroadside assistanceRoadsideAssistancewarrantyThu, 13 Jul 2006 15:37:00 EST<![CDATA[POLL: Top story to take away from J.D. Power & Associates 2006 Initial Quality Survey]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/08/poll-top-story-to-take-away-from-j-d-power-and-associates-2006-i/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/08/poll-top-story-to-take-away-from-j-d-power-and-associates-2006-i/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/08/poll-top-story-to-take-away-from-j-d-power-and-associates-2006-i/#comments
Top story of 2006 IQS
Porsche beats all by jumping from 32nd place to 1st thanks to Cayman launch
Toyota and Lexus top 11 of 19 categories
BMW drops from 3rd to 22nd place - way to go iDrive
Hyundai works hard and takes 3rd place ahead of Toyota
Jaguar falls but lands on its feet in 5th place
Chrysler cracks the top ten for brands
  

POLL: Top story to take away from J.D. Power & Associates 2006 Initial Quality Survey originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 08 Jun 2006 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>qualityThu, 08 Jun 2006 12:31:00 EST<![CDATA[J.D. Power revamp should swing quality ratings]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/12/j-d-power-revamp-should-swing-quality-ratings/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/12/j-d-power-revamp-should-swing-quality-ratings/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/12/j-d-power-revamp-should-swing-quality-ratings/#commentsFiled under:

The Detroit News is reporting that J.D. .Power is tinkering with its Initial Quality Survey for the first time since 1998 and only the second time since it was introduced in 1987, and the results could mean an increase in reports of problems by up to 40 percent.

The changes affect the number of questions asked (217 vs. 135) and the way in which they're asked to the almost 60,000 new car and truck owners. Owners are also given the chance to reply in essay form for the first time.

Though some manufacturers might cry foul if they drop in the rankings as a result of the new survey, most appreciate the additional material they'll be able to glean from J.D. Power's results.

[Source: The Detroit News]

J.D. Power revamp should swing quality ratings originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 May 2006 19:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car purchaseCarPurchaseInitial Quality SurveyInitialQualitySurveyIQSJ.D. PowerJ.d.Powernew carNewCarqualityFri, 12 May 2006 19:09:00 EST<![CDATA[Big 3's biggest challenge rebuilding trust?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/09/to-chrysler-ford-and-general-it-s-all-a-matter-of-trust/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/09/to-chrysler-ford-and-general-it-s-all-a-matter-of-trust/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/09/to-chrysler-ford-and-general-it-s-all-a-matter-of-trust/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Detroit Free Press columnist Tom Walsh believes the Detroit Big Three are wasting precious resources trying to answer why Americans are not buying their cars. The problems are not prices or how to beat Toyota in environmental issues, writes Walsh, but that domestic automakers need to rebuild the public's trust in their products by making ownership hassle-free.

Walsh states his arguable opinion that the domestics' strengths are low prices, trustworthy service and high quality. Chrysler, Ford, and GM must not only maintain such qualities but keep the public continuously aware of them. That way the consumer may one day forgive them of years of slipshod products and mediocre service. Ford's 'Bold Move' campaign, Chrysler's daring 300, and the new Saturn lineup show that Detroit still knows how to make great looking, fun-to-drive vehicles. Walsh believes all they need to do now is prove they can be counted on.

[Source: Detroit Free Press]

Big 3's biggest challenge rebuilding trust? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 09 May 2006 19:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>opinionqualityTue, 09 May 2006 19:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Ford changes how executives' benefits tied to auto shop bills]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/03/22/ford-executives-benefits-tied-to-auto-shop-bills/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/03/22/ford-executives-benefits-tied-to-auto-shop-bills/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/03/22/ford-executives-benefits-tied-to-auto-shop-bills/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Hee's a bit of news that surely had Ford's executive eyeing Consumer Reports rankings on all of the Blue Oval's offerings...

According to Jim Mateja of the Chicago Tribune, the recent 8-K form Dearborn filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission altered one of the factors that determines executive stock bonuses. In years past, that factor: "high time in service improvement," translated to how much repair work costs owners after three years. Or at least it did... now that span has been shortened to just three months of ownership. The net effect is that bonuses will be based on keeping new vehicles out of repair facilities as much as possible. Ford is saying that it is implementing the policy to keep its executives focused on the company's goal of customer satisfaction.

Ford Chairman and CEO Bill Ford Jr., will not be affected by the change, as he's already vowed not to take any form of compensation until the company is profitable again in North America.

[Source: Chicago Tribune]

Ford changes how executives' benefits tied to auto shop bills originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 22 Mar 2006 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Bill FordCar repaircompensationexecutivesFordqualitySecurity and Exchange CommissionWed, 22 Mar 2006 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Has vehicle quality reached its peak?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/03/03/has-vehicle-quality-reached-its-peak/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/03/03/has-vehicle-quality-reached-its-peak/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/03/03/has-vehicle-quality-reached-its-peak/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Are the current crop of vehicles, from compact cars to the largest SUVs and trucks, the best consumers can expect from automakers? That is the question posed (and answered) in the latest Consumer Reports (CR) according to James Healey of USA Today. (Pictured is CR's 'Fun to Drive' top pick, the Subaru Impreza WRX/STi.)

[More information after the jump.]

Continue reading Has vehicle quality reached its peak?

Has vehicle quality reached its peak? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Mar 2006 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Consumer ReportsConsumerReportsInitial QualityInitialQualityJD POwerJdPowerQualityVehicle ReliabilityVehicleReliabilityFri, 03 Mar 2006 11:00:00 EST