JD Power’s initial quality ratings are widely used across the industry to help buyers discover which makes and models offer the fewest maintenance problems and issues. In addition, automakers use the ratings as well, incorporating the data into their advertising and marketing materials. Case in point is the latest results which are currently used by Chevrolet to highlight a variety of the automaker’s latest vehicles, such as the Chevrolet Malibu.
Chevrolet scored an average of 113 for 2008, meaning that owners experienced an average of 113 problems per 100 vehicles. Although “problems” are never good to have on a brand new vehicle, Orlando Chevrolet dealers point out that Chevy did do fairly well considering it was ranking above the industry average of 118 problems per 100 vehicles. The best performer in the latest quality index by JD Power was an 87.
While Chevrolet took the opportunity to highlight their above average performance, the automaker also won an award for plant quality at its Fairfax Assembly Center. Among the vehicles built at this plant are the Chevrolet Silverado and Pontiac Grand Prix, both of which remain strong sellers at Hartford Chevrolet and other locations.
GM has had difficulty in recent years bringing their brands above average in the quality rating. But GM focused on turning things around, bringing Cadillac, Pontiac, and Buick, above the industry average, in addition to Chevrolet.
While domestic automakers continue to struggle in North American in terms of sales, Westfield Chevrolet dealers agrees that GM is showing signs of internal improvements as witnessed by the latest quality reports. Being able to show off quality will help to make the automaker a stronger performer against Japanese automakers, who have been performing slightly better than domestics thanks to their reliable and affordable models.
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