Time is a precious commodity for today’s new-vehicle buyers. Long working hours and lengthy commutes make it harder for people to perform daily chores,
and families with two working parents simply don’t have a spare moment, or frequently a spare dollar, to deal with unexpected time and financial stressors. Considering the inconvenience that comes with a trip to the dealership for auto repairs, it comes as no surprise, then, that vehicle quality is a primary consideration for today’s new-vehicle buyers.Each year, the J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Study (IQS)SM surveys consumers who have purchased new model-year vehicles and have owned them for at least 90 days. The 2007 IQS measures consumer satisfaction with vehicle design and mechanical quality: design quality to gauge how the vehicle works (i.e., control operation and layout) and mechanical quality to determine how the vehicle is assembled and functions. Awards are given to the top-ranked models in 19 vehicle segments, as well as to assembly plants that produce vehicles with the fewest reported defects.
This year’s IQS results are based upon approximately 97,000 responses from verified purchasers and lessees of new 2007 model year cars and trucks. Key findings of the 2007 IQS include:
- Vehicle quality levels have remained stable since 2006. Overall, the industry is on par with the 2006 IQS study results.
- New product launches remain problematic for many manufacturers.
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