BMW Ranks Highest in Automotive Initial Quality in South Africa: JD Power Report
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Mercedes-Benz Plant Ranks Highest in Initial Quality among Passenger Vehicle Manufacturing Plants in South Africa
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa - December 7, 2007: For the first time since the inception of the study in 2004, BMW ranks highest in initial quality among passenger vehicle nameplates in South Africa, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2007 South Africa Initial Quality Study(SM) (IQS) released today.
The study is a customer-driven measure of problems experienced during the first three to seven months of ownership and examines 228 individual problem symptoms across nine factors: vehicle exterior; the driving experience; features/controls/displays; audio/entertainment/navigation; seats; heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC); vehicle interior; engine/transmission; and other problems. All problems are identified as the number reported per 100 vehicles (PP100), with lower scores indicating fewer problems and therefore better quality.
With 142 PP100, BMW earns the highest rank among passenger vehicle nameplates. Honda (145 PP100) follows BMW in the rankings. Rounding out the top five are Subaru (147 PP100), Mercedes-Benz (163 PP100) and Volvo (174 PP100).
"BMW has made steady improvements in quality over the past couple of years, which are reflected in its climb from ranking third in 2005 to the top rank in 2007," said Brian Walters, vice president of J.D. Power and Associates Europe, Middle East and Africa operations.
The Mercedes-Benz East London passenger vehicle assembly plant that produces the Mercedes-Benz C-Class leads other South Africa plants in initial quality, with 103 PP100. Vehicle assembly plants are ranked based solely on the number of defects and malfunctions in vehicles produced at the plant.
"The Mercedes-Benz East London plant was recently retooled to produce left-hand drive vehicles, which are exported to the United States," said Walters. "It is particularly impressive that this plant, in the face of major changes to its production line, has been able to produce vehicles of such outstanding quality."
2007 IQS Ranking Highlights
For a second consecutive year, Toyota ranks highest among pickup truck
nameplates at 227 PP100. Opel (231 PP100) and Isuzu (272 PP100) follow in
the rankings.
Registering fewer problems than any other model in the industry, the Honda Jazz (lower small car) receives an award for a fourth consecutive year, while another Honda model -- the CRV -- ranks highest in the compact SUV segment. Also ranking highest in its segment for a fourth consecutive year is the BMW 3 Series (medium car).
Other models leading their respective segments in initial quality are the Kia Picanto (lower compact car), Audi A3 (upper small car) and Opel Corsa Utility (compact pickup), which receives an award for a third consecutive year. In addition, the Toyota Hilux leads both the one-ton single cab and one-ton double cab pickup segments. Both models receive awards for a second consecutive year.
Assembly Plants
Following the highest-ranked Mercedes-Benz East London assembly plant in
the passenger-vehicle plant rankings is the Toyota plant (151 PP100) that
produces the Corolla, Fortuner and RunX.
Among pickup truck plants, the Toyota assembly plant that produces the Hilux ranks highest with 158 PP100. The General Motors truck plant (163 PP100) and Nissan pickup truck plant (194 PP100) follow in the rankings. The General Motors plant produces the Isuzu KB and Opel Corsa Utility, while the Nissan plant produces the Nissan 1400 and Nissan Hardbody.
J.D. Power and Associates is recognised across the globe as the leading independent authority on consumer-reported quality in the automotive industry. The firm's primary role is to help automotive manufacturers further improve their product quality and service levels through a better understanding of consumers. J.D. Power and Associates also provides its study results to consumers for use as a reference point when purchasing a new vehicle.
Since its launch in the United States in 1987, the IQS has become a quality standard used by virtually every automotive manufacturer around the world. In addition to South Africa, J.D. Power and Associates conducts vehicle quality research in many other markets, including China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, the United Kingdom and the United States. Each year, more than one million new-vehicle buyers around the world receive a J.D. Power and Associates IQS survey.
The 2007 South Africa Initial Quality Study is based on a representative sample of more than 8,600 new-vehicle owners who purchased their vehicles between January and May 2007. The study was funded entirely by J. D. Power and Associates as part of its global research programs, in co-operation with the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC), and includes a section of questions to assist the Corporation and the Department of Transport (DOT) in measuring the performance of its vehicle and drivers licensing programme.
Initial Quality Nameplate Ranking -- Passenger Vehicles Problems per 100 Vehicles
(Lower score reflects better quality performance) BMW 142 Honda 145 Subaru 147 Mercedes-Benz 163 Volvo 174 Lexus 184 Audi 186 Hyundai 201 Land Rover 204 Kia 207 Chevrolet 211 Toyota 217 Mazda 225 Citroen 239 Nissan 240 Passenger Vehicle Segment Average 245 Peugeot 250 Daihatsu 251 Ford 252 Renault 266 Opel 291 Fiat 332 Volkswagen 343 Tata 567 NOTE: The passenger vehicle segment includes car and SUV models only.
Included in the study, but not ranked due to small sample size are: Dodge, Jaguar, Jeep, Mahindra, MINI, Mitsubishi, Porsche, Proton and Seat.
Initial Quality Nameplate Ranking -- Pickup Trucks Problems per 100 Vehicles
(Lower score reflects better quality performance) Toyota 227 Opel 231 Isuzu 272 Pickup Truck Segment Average 312 Ford 323 Nissan 365
NOTE: The pickup truck segment includes compact pickup truck and one-ton pickup truck (single and double cab) models only.
Included in the study, but not ranked due to small sample size are: Chana, Fiat, Great Wall Motors, Hyundai, Kia, Mahindra, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Proton, Tata and Volkswagen.
Top Vehicles per Segment in Initial Quality
(Lower score reflects better quality performance) Problems per 100 Vehicles Lower Compact Car Kia Picanto 169 Hyundai Atoz 206 Lower Small Car Honda Jazz 99 Toyota Yaris 169 Hyundai Getz 171 Upper Small Car Audi A3 177 Mercedes-Benz A-Class 185 Hyundai Accent 193 Medium Car BMW 3 Series 134 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 170 Compact SUV Honda CR-V 138 Subaru Forester 158 Toyota RAV4 191 Compact Pickup Opel Corsa Utility 231 Ford Bantam 315 Fiat Strada 321 One-Ton Single Cab Pickup Toyota Hilux Single Cab 225 Isuzu KB Single Cab 285 One-Ton Double Cab Pickup Toyota Hilux Double Cab 231 Isuzu KB Double Cab 253
