Ford's Domestic Brand Quality in Statistical Dead Heat With Toyota and Honda for 2008 Model Year
-- Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles continue their impressive quality gains, collectively improving for the fourth straight year and moving into a virtual tie with Honda-Acura and Toyota-Lexus-Scion for the 2008 model year, according to the latest U.S. Global Quality Research System (GQRS) study.
DEARBORN, Mich., Oct. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Ford Motor Company's
(NYSE: F) surging domestic quality is now equal to the best in the industry
for the 2008 model year, according to the latest U.S. Global Quality Research
System (GQRS) study.
Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles collectively reduced "things gone
wrong" (TGW) by 7.7 percent compared to last year and are now statistically
equivalent with Honda (including Acura) and Toyota (including Lexus and Scion)
atop the list of seven major automakers in the survey.
From 2004 to 2008, Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicle quality, as measured
by a reduction in TGW, has improved by 33 percent.
"This is One Ford at its best. It's taken thousands of people
continuously working together with laser-like focus every day to boost vehicle
quality for our customers to the top of the pack," said Bennie Fowler, Ford
group vice president, Global Quality. "But this is a never-ending journey.
The goal now is to distance ourselves from our top competitors. We want to be
the sole quality leader."
The 2008-launched Ford F-Series Super Duty and the Lincoln Mark LT ranked
first in their respective segments in both TGW and customer satisfaction.
Ford Mustang GT500 topped the sports car category in TGW.
Overall, 18 of 24 Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles recorded TGW
improvements. Ford's newly launched Focus improved significantly in TGW and
customer satisfaction, now equaling the Toyota Corolla in both categories.
The Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan are significantly better in TGW than the
Toyota Camry, which they tied in customer satisfaction.
"We are consistently delivering improved quality by following
standardized, disciplined processes throughout Ford," said Fowler. "This is
particularly impressive considering the difficult challenges we've had to
overcome."
Ford also ranked best in class for TGW performance in the functional areas
of Vehicle Engineering and Electrical among major manufacturers. Ford,
Lincoln and Mercury vehicles averaged 1,287 TGW per 1,000 vehicles, a
reduction of 108 versus a year ago. Customer satisfaction with the company's
vehicles reached its highest level ever, improving one point to 77 percent.
The 2008 model-year GQRS survey, conducted for Ford by RDA Group of
Bloomfield Hills, Mich., solicits feedback on vehicle trouble and customer
satisfaction from owners of all major makes and models after three months in
service.
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn,
Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With
about 229,000 employees and about 90 plants worldwide, the company's core and
affiliated automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Volvo and Mazda.
The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company.
For more information regarding Ford's products, please visit www.ford.com.
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