Toyota, No longer Satisfies Americans like it used to
The result does not necessarily mean an improved quality of cars produced by Ford (8.37, +0.14, +1.7%) and General Motors (34.46, +0.61, +1.8%) but a question of Toyota’s function (119.40, +0.07, +0.1%).
Toyota sloped down from the list being the first and had allowed Buick, Lincoln and Mercury to climb the post.
Claes Fornell, who headed the study, says, “What goes up must come down, but it remains to be seen whether this is just a stumble for Toyota or a sign of something more serious,”
“But Detroit automakers would be making a huge mistake if they think the Asians will keep falling back to them,”
“They have to do it on their own.” He added.
Before this study, American Car makers had also made it to the Customer satisfaction Index in the previous years based on price promotions which tend to wear down profits and discredit the brand according to Fornell. But lately much have improved on the quality of the vehicles of General Motors and Ford.
On top of the study was Lexus with the score of 87 out of 100 from last year’s score of 86 and an over all average of 82 making it the top in the industry. Although it is Toyota’s luxury division, it deposed its parent brand.
GM’s Buick and Cadillac (grille inserts can be replaced by GMC Grille insert), Ford’s Lincoln-Mercury and BMW all scored 86.
Being on the sixth place, Toyota gained 84 points.
Ford’s luxury brand, the Blue Oval Brand ranked seventh with the score of 80.
Mazda and Kia both made it almost to the bottom having scored both 78.
Chrysler’s jeep with 75 points is on the last place.
No comments have been heard from Toyota’s side regarding the published result of the study.
“I’m a little bit skeptical on their approach to fixing their current problems,” says Fornell.
”But in the long run, Toyota will find a way to handle it”.
Let’s just hope so.
