Most dependable cars: Buick and Jaguar

J.D. Power’s Vehicle Dependability Study says that these are the highest ranked for 2008.

1. Buick and Jaguar (122 problems per 100 vehicles)
2. Lexus (126)
3. Toyota (129)
4. Mercury (134)
5. Infiniti (142)
6. Acura (146)
7. Lincoln (147)
8. Cadillac and Honda (148)
9. Porsche (150)
10. Audi and Ford (159)
11. Hyundai (161)
12. Subaru (162)
13. Chrysler (165)
14. BMW (166)

The industry average for problems per 100 vehicles is 170. Subaru had the lowest score at 263.

Notable sub-par results: Mercedes Benz (184), Volvo (186), Hummer (221) and VW (260).

Tags: Buick, Jaguar, Lexus, Toyota, Mercury, Infiniti, Acura, Lincoln, Cadillac, Honda, Porsche, Audi, Ford, Hyundai, Subaru, Chrysler, BMW, automotive, auto industry, automotive industry, J.D. Power

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Top auto brand images

The winners of Kelley Blue Book’s 2009 Brand Image awards have been announced:

• Best Value Brand: Toyota
• Coolest Brand: BMW
• Most Family Friendly Brand: Toyota
• Most Rugged Truck Brand: Ford
• Best Performance Brand: BMW
• Best Comfort Brand: Cadillac
• Best Exterior Design Brand — Luxury: BMW
• Best Exterior Design Brand — Non-Luxury: Nissan
• Best Interior Design Brand: Cadillac
• Best Prestige Brand: Mercedes-Benz

Jack R. Nerad, executive editorial director for Kelley Blue Book and kbb.com had this to say, as reported by the Detroit Free Press:

"The winners of this year’s Brand Image Awards exemplify automotive brands that are on the right track, making a great impression with consumers not just on a specific model level, but across the entire brand lineup."

Tags: Toyota, BMW, Ford, Cadillac, Nissan, Mercedes Benz, Kelley Blue Book, brand image, automotive, auto industry, automotive industry

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Winners and losers in global market share: forecast

According to Global Insight, a leading American market intelligence specialist, these are the automakers that will grow the most in global market share over the next five years:

1. Tata (India): will grow 0.6 percent (current market share: 0.6 percent, 2013 forecast: 1.2 percent)
2. Chery (China): will grow 0.4 percent (0.6, 1.0 percent)
3. Renault (France): will grow 0.3 percent (3.1, 3.4 percent)

Other brands that will gain market share: Maruti (India), Nissan, BMW, Audi, Mitsubishi, Skoda and Wuling (China). All will increase 0.1 percent.

Brands that will stay the same: Honda, Mercedes-Benz, Dodge.

Carmakers that will lose global market share:

1. Ford: will lose 0.7 percent (current market share 7.1, 2013 forecast: 6.4 percent)
2. Peugeot: will lose 0.4 percent (2.9, 2.5 percent)
3. Daihatsu: will lose 0.3 percent (1.2, 0.9 percent)
4. Lada (Russia): will lose 0.2 percent (1.1, 0.9 percent)

Other automakers that will lose global market share: Toyota, Chevrolet, Volkswagen, Kia, Hyundai, Fiat, Suzuki, Mazda and Opel.

Tags: auto industry

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VW is #3

VW has taken the number three spot from Ford, and now sits closely behind Toyota (#1) and GM (#2).

"We are delighted that the Volkswagen Group has made it to the global automobile industry’s top three for the first time. This shows that we are on the right track with our ever-stronger international presence and, above all, our product program. We will systematically push ahead with our growth course even in the present difficult market environment," said Volkswagen’s CEO, Martin Winterkorn.

VW sold 3.31 million units in the first half of 2008, a little ahead of Ford (3.22 million).

Tags: Ford, VW, Volkswagen, Martin Winterkorn, automotive, auto industry, automotive industry

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Volvo suitors from China

Two Chinese automakers have shown an interest in buying Volvo from Ford.

Chinese automaker Guangzhou Automotive may be interested, but only after they finalize their current IPO stage in October;  they plan to raise $1 billion by dual-listing in Hong Kong and Shanghai.

Guangzhou Automotive has joint ventures in China with both Toyota and Honda. They plan to invest $1 billion in a plant to build their own branded cars in 2010.

Chery Auto, one of China’s largest and most well-known carmakers, has also been named in the media as a possible buyer of the Volvo assets.

Tags: Volvo, Ford, Guangzhou Automotive, Chery, automotive, auto industry, automotive industry, China, Chinese auto industry, Chinese automotive industry

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Only Honda is selling more in U.S.

Vehicle sales for June 2008 fell substantially in the U.S., compared to the same month last year. Only Honda was able to gain ground.

• Honda: Sales improved by 13.8 percent. June sales totaled 142,539 vehicles, a new monthly record. For the first half of 2008, Honda sales also rose, by 4.8 percent.
• Toyota sales fell by 11.5 percent. For the first half of 2008, they sold 1.24 million vehicles, down 6.2 percent.
• Ford sales dropped 28 percent. They sold 167,090 vehicles in June, and 1.1 million for the first half of 2008 (down 14 percent).
• GM sales were down by 18.5 percent (265,937 units in June compared to 326,300 a year ago). For the first half of 2008, sales were 1,6 million, 16.5 percent down. Hummer was especially hit with a drop of 59.3 percent.
• Nissan sales fell 17.7 percent, although sales of their more fuel efficient cars did grow.

Tags: Honda, Ford, GM, General Motors, Toyota, Nissan, automotive, auto industry, automotive industry

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Small gets big in U.S.

Various news items from Automotive News point a rosier picture for Japanese manufacturers vs. the American Big Three, as a pronounced move away from large vehicles towards smaller more eco-friendly ones continues in the U.S.

• Toyota and Honda are better positioned than Ford, GM and Chrysler to adjust production towards smaller cars.
• The full-size pickup segment has virtually collapsed (from 2.5 million units in 2005 to an estimated 1.5 million this year), catching Ford and Chrysler at the worst possible moment as they are about to launch redesigned models.
• GM’s Hummer line is close to being sold off or possibly disappearing.
• GM is considering lightening its big Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon models by moving to a different platform. "The future of other big SUVs such as the Chevrolet Suburban and Cadillac Escalade is unclear".
• Toyota is making a big move with its Prius hybrid, and may soon begin production in the U.S.

Tags: automotive, auto industry, automotive industry, alternative energy, renewable energy, sustainable energy, electric cars, hybrids, GM, General Motors, Toyota, Honda, Hummer, Prius

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2008 highest quality trucks and multi-activity vehicles

J.D. Power’s 2008 Initial Quality Study is out, and these are the top trucks and MAVs (multi-activity vehicles) in each segment:

Compact MAVs

1. Honda CR-V
2. Chrysler PT Cruiser
3. Ford Escape

Midsize MAVs

1. Dodge Durango
2. Hyundai Santa Fe
3. Toyota Highlander

Large MAVs

1. Toyota Sequoia
2. Chevrolet Tahoe
3. GMC Yukon

Midsize premium MAVs

1. Lexus RX
2. Lexus GX 470
3. Porsche Cayenne

Large premium MAVs

1. Lincoln Navigator
2. Infiniti QX56
3. Cadillac Escalade

Large pickups

1. Chevrolet Silverado LD
2. Toyota Tundra
3. Chevrolet Avalanche

Midsize pickups

1. Dodge Dakota
2. Ford Ranger
3. Toyota Tacoma

Vans

1. Ford E-Series
2. Nissan Quest
3. Chevrolet Express

Tags: J.D. Power, Dodge Durango, Dodge, Hyundai Santa Fe, Hyundai, Toyota Highlander, Toyota, Toyota Sequoia, Chevrolet Tahoe, Chevrolet, GM, General Motors, GMC Yukon, Lexus, Lexus RX, Lexus GX 470, Porsche, Porsche Cayenne, Lincoln Navigator, Infiniti, Infiniti QX56, Cadillac, Cadillac EscaladeChevrolet Silverado, Toyota Tundra, Chevrolet Avalanche Dodge Dakota, Ford, Ford Ranger Toyota Tacoma Vans Ford E-Series Nissan Quest Chevrolet Express, automotive, auto industry, automotive industry

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2008 highest quality midsize and large cars

J.D. Power’s 2008 Initial Quality Study is out, and these are the top cars in the midsize and large segments:

Midsize cars

1. Chevrolet Malibu
2. Mitsubishi Galant
3. Ford Fusion

Large cars

1. Pontiac Grand Prix Sedan
2. Mercury Sable
3. Mercury Grand Marquis

Tags: J.D. Power, Chevtolet, GM, Chevrolet Malibu, Mitsubishi, Mitsubishi Galant, Ford, Ford Fusion, Pontiac, Pontiac Grand Prix, Mercury Sable, Mercury Grand Marquis, Mercury, automotive, auto industry, automotive industry

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Most productive auto plants in U.S.

Who has the most productive auto manufacturing plants in the U.S.?

According to the 2007 Harbour Report, among multi-plant manufacturers that honor goes to Toyota and Chrysler. Both scored 30.37 hours to fully assemble a vehicle. Chrysler improved 7.7 percent while Toyota actually fell 1.5 percent.

Closely following the leaders by less than 3.5 hours are Honda, General Motors, Nissan and Ford. These four have been persistently closing the productivity gap over the past five years.

It’s worth noting from the Harbour Report press release that:

"Toyota fabricates and assembles a greater percentage of its vehicle parts with its own employees, while the Detroit Three purchase many modules and subassemblies from suppliers, thus saving labor. Toyota also has retained nearly all its employees even in plants that experienced lower production."

The most productive single plant in North America?

Chrysler’s Toledo Supplier Park which takes just 13.57 labor hours to build a Jeep.

You can read more here…

Tags: Harbour Report, Toyota, Chrysler, Nissan, GM, General Motors, Honda, Ford, automotive, auto industry, automotive industry

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