June 8, 2006

Porsche Takes Lead In Major Quality Study
J.D. Power Survey Drops Longtime Leader Lexus
To No. 2 ; Asian Cars Still Top U.S. Brands Overall
By JENNIFER SARANOW
June 8, 2006; Page D1
http://online.wsj.com/public/resources/images/PJ-AH933A_JDPOW_20060607225613.gif

In the latest J.D. Power & Associates new-car-quality survey, Porsche AG came from behind to overtake longtime leader, Toyota Motor Corp.'s Lexus brand.

Lexus, which had held the top spot for five years, came in second, while Porsche moved into first place from last year's ranking of No. 31.

Despite Porsche's gain, Asian auto makers generally held on to high rankings, while a number of German and domestic nameplates lost ground, signaling further challenges for U.S. auto makers who have lost market share to Asian rivals perceived to have higher-quality vehicles.

Rounding out the top four, Hyundai Motor Co. jumped to No. 3, up from a tie with General Motors Corp.'s Hummer brand at No. 10 last year, and marking the first time Hyundai came in among the top three nameplates in the study.

Toyota came in fourth, up from seventh place last year. GM's Buick brand dropped from No. 4 to a below-average ranking at No. 22, and Ford Motor Co.'s Land Rover came in last place, down from nearly last in the 2005 survey.

Besides Porsche,** German brands generally dropped in the survey,** with DaimlerChrysler AG's Mercedes-Benz brand and BMW AG's BMW both falling to below average from top-10 rankings last year. Volkswagen AG's VW brand finished in the bottom four for a second year in a row.

Auto makers consider the Initial Quality Study, which looks at problems owners report for the first 90 days of ownership, to be the Oscars of quality. And they pay the Westlake Village, Calif., consulting firm for breakdowns of the data and to be able to use the results in their advertising.

This year for the first time, J.D. Power divided the publicly published results into two categories: design quality, measuring things like the usefulness of dashboard displays and controls, and production quality, which measures the level of defects and malfunctions. Based on the two different categories, Porsche had 49 defect or malfunction problems and 35 design problems per 100 vehicles. BMW, in contrast, had 82 design problems and 52 defect or malfunction problems, per 100 vehicles. Problems with the new 3 series, in particular, dragged BMW down.

The survey itself has been totally redesigned this year, for the first time since 1998. The aim was to make it more relevant to the vehicles on the road today, which are loaded with high-tech features ranging from DVD players to navigation systems and have faster production cycles, as well as to help car makers better identify problems with these models.

The new survey, based on questionnaire responses from 63,607 buyers and lessees of new 2006 models, asked about 217 specific problems, ranging from rear DVD-system playback to loose molding to peeling paint. That's up from 135 problems previously queried. And the questions were more detailed than in the past, asking, for instance, if 'a navigation system freezes up' rather than if it's just 'not working properly.'

Because of the change to the survey, some auto makers say it's hard to compare results year to year. But Joe Ivers, executive director of quality and customer-satisfaction research for J.D. Power, says that his own analysis shows that the changes in rankings weren't due to the different questions being asked, but rather could be explained by changes in the vehicle lineup.

The success of Porsche, which jumped to No. 1 in the nameplate rankings, can be partly attributed to the totally new Cayman mid-engine hard-top sports car, which came in at the top of the compact premium sporty car segment. In addition, the German car maker made a number of quality improvements to its Cayenne sport-utility vehicle.

'We study the results of quality studies ... and we go to the factory and make changes,' says Tony Fouladpour, Porsche spokesman. For example, he says the Cayenne key fob was improved so someone can hold it and lock the car from further away than previously.

**Hyundai, meanwhile, came in third with 102 problems reported per 100 vehicles, making the Korean car maker the top non-luxury or mass-market nameplate. **The company's focus on quality in recent years has 'really paid off over the last three years,' says spokesman Chris Hosford.

Mr. Hosford says the headrests in the 2006 Tucson were changed to improve comfort, the instrument-panel was improved for visibility and ease of use, and the radio antenna was redesigned to reduce wind noise. Among Hyundai models, the Tucson was ranked the highest among compact 'multi-activity vehicles' (or SUVs).
TOP HONORS

Some of the top-ranked models:
• Compact premium sporty car: Porsche Cayman

• Large premium car: the Lexus LS 430

• Midsize car: Toyota Camry

• Compact 'multi-activity vehicle': Hyundai Tucson

• Van: Chrysler Town & Country

• Plus, see the full results1 of the J.D. Power & Associates 2006 Initial Quality Study.

Source : J.D. Power

Despite the Lexus brand dropping overall, specific Lexus and Toyota models continued to rank high. The two brands captured 11 out of 19 segment awards in the 2006 survey, and Toyota ranked highest in five segment categories, including the Toyota Highlander in the midsize multi-activity vehicle segment and the Toyota Camry in the midsize car category.
**
Honda Motor Co.'s Honda brand came in No. 6 among nameplates**, with five Honda models among the top three of their respective segments.

Among domestic brands, GM's Buick brand dropped to a tie at No. 22 from a fourth-place ranking last year, partly because its two best-selling vehicles are gone -- the Century and LeSabre. Cadillac also fell to No. 7 from No. 5 among nameplates last year. But the GMC and Chevrolet brands both moved up. The Ford nameplate came in below the industry average for a second year in a row. And DaimlerChrysler's top-ranked brand was Chrysler, which tied with Acura for 10th place.

GM took all three top spots in the large pickup category. Hummer dropped to nearly last, from 10th last year, which J.D. Power attributes to problems with the H3 model. 'We want to be much better than this, but [the quality improvement] validates we're moving in the right direction,' says Jamie Hresko, vice president of quality at GM, North America.

The generally weaker showings of many U.S. brands illustrate the challenges U.S. auto makers face in attracting consumers. According to research firm Autodata Corp., GM, Ford and DaimlerChrysler have all lost market share, based on May year-to-year sales figures, as car sales slumped amid higher gas prices. In addition, April was the first month when Toyota outsold DaimlerChrysler in the U.S.

Write to Jennifer Saranow at [email:30ka8jab]jennifer.saranow@wsj.com[/email:30ka8jab]2
URL for this article:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB114969755347673837.html

Hyperlinks in this Article:

(1) http://www.jdpa.com/corporate/news/releases/pdf/2006082.pdf
(2) mailto:jennifer.saranow@wsj.com

Ο χρήστης Pathos έγραψε:
Ενδιαφέρον αυτή η έρευνα. Μήπως έχεις την λίστα σε μεγαλύτερη φωτο;;

Τα παντα ειναι εδω:

http://www.jdpa.com/corporate/news/rele ... 006082.pdf

Ο χρήστης manosk έγραψε:
Η Hyundai σκίζει; Τί ακριβώς δείχνει αυτή η λίστα;

Δειχνει τα παραπωνα καταναλωτων τις 90 πρωτες ημερες για τα αυτοκινητα τους. Φετος εκτος απο βλαβες εχουν βαλει και 'σχεδιαστικα' παραπονα οπως π.χ. εργνομικα θεματα στο εσωτερικο.

Ο χρήστης manosk έγραψε:
Μην το λες. Πολλά αυτοκίνητα εμφανίζουν μικροπροβλήματα κατευθείαν από το εργοστάσιο.
Κάποιος τριγμός, κάποιο σφίξιμο, κάποια κακή ρύθμιση, κάποιο πρόβλημα με την παραλαβή σε σχέση με όσα ζητήθηκαν κατά την παραγγελία κλπ.

Ακριβως.

Courtesy of Edmunds.com

If you're shopping for a new car, you'll want to put residual value on your list of factors to consider. Vehicles with higher residual values come with lower monthly payments should you decide to lease, and improved resale value should you decide to buy. This list spotlights the cars with the lowest residual values for 2006 — that is, they're likely to depreciate the most during the ownership period. Below, we show the percentage of its original value that each vehicle is likely to retain after five years with an annual mileage of 15,000. Residual value percentages are based on the national True Market Value (TMV) price, plus typical options and destination charge.

These cars aren't as bad a deal as you might think. Many of them are very inexpensive to begin with. Furthermore, cars with low residual values can be bargains when purchased used, since you'll likely be able to purchase a car on this list for far less than you'd pay for a competing vehicle more adept at holding its value.

Worst for 2006

[list:3604xfn2]2006 Ford Focus — 14.4%[/list:u:3604xfn2]
[list:3604xfn2]2006 Dodge Stratus — 14.7% [/list:u:3604xfn2]
[list:3604xfn2]2006 Kia Optima — 16.2% [/list:u:3604xfn2]
[list:3604xfn2]2006 Nissan Sentra — 17.8%[/list:u:3604xfn2]
[list:3604xfn2]2006 Suzuki Reno — 18.2% [/list:u:3604xfn2]
[list:3604xfn2]2006 Kia Rio — 20.2% [/list:u:3604xfn2]
[list:3604xfn2]2006 Chrysler Sebring — 20.3% [/list:u:3604xfn2]
[list:3604xfn2]2006 Hyundai Elantra — 20.4% [/list:u:3604xfn2]
[list:3604xfn2]2006 Kia Spectra — 21.9% [/list:u:3604xfn2]
[list:3604xfn2]2006 Mercury Grand Marquis — 22.6%[/list:u:3604xfn2]

Best for 2006

[list:3604xfn2]2006 Mini Cooper — 54 percent [/list:u:3604xfn2]
[list:3604xfn2]2006 Dodge Viper — 52.5 percent [/list:u:3604xfn2]
[list:3604xfn2]2006 Toyota Camry Solara — 52 percent [/list:u:3604xfn2]
[list:3604xfn2]2006 Honda S2000 — 51.4 percent [/list:u:3604xfn2]
[list:3604xfn2]2006 Porsche 911 — 50 percent [/list:u:3604xfn2]
[list:3604xfn2]2006 BMW M3 — 48.7 percent [/list:u:3604xfn2]
[list:3604xfn2]2006 Volkswagen New Beetle — 48.6 percent [/list:u:3604xfn2]
[list:3604xfn2]2006 Toyota Matrix — 48.3 percent [/list:u:3604xfn2]
[list:3604xfn2]2006 Acura RSX — 48.3 percent [/list:u:3604xfn2]
[list:3604xfn2]2006 BMW 3 Series — 48.2 percent [/list:u:3604xfn2]

Ο χρήστης titsataki έγραψε:
Αυτο ειναι η αξια του αυτοκινητου στα τεσσερα χρονια στα πεντε χρονια τι;
Νικος

Are you kidding?

Το διαβασες?

Below, we show the percentage of its original value that each vehicle is likely to retain after five years with an annual mileage of 15,000.

Tracinda: Renault, Nissan Want GM Stake - - Renault and Nissan Want Stake in GM, According to Investor Kerkorian's Tracinda Corp. - - AP - - SOurce: yahoo.com

NEW YORK (AP) -- Automakers Renault SA and Nissan Motor Co. are interested in purchasing a significant stake in General Motors Corp. and including the struggling Detroit company in their alliance, according to a letter sent Friday to GM from billionaire investor Kirk Kerkorian's investment company.

Shares of GM increased $1.20, or 4.4 percent, to $28.64 in morning trading on the New York Stock Exchange after the news.

The letter from Kerkorian's investment company, Tracinda Corp., said the company believes Renault and Nissan are receptive to the idea of including General Motors in their partnership and purchasing 'a significant minority interest' in the Detroit automaker.

Tracinda, a large minority shareholder in GM, said the existing French-Japanese partnership has created 'tremendous engineering, manufacturing and marketing synergies, resulting in substantial benefits and cost savings to both Renault and Nissan.'

Tracinda urged GM's board to form a committee to 'immediately and fully explore this opportunity together with management,' as it feels the alliance could help GM 'realize substantial synergies and cost savings and thereby greatly benefit the company and enhance shareholder value.'

GM, in a statement, said the Tracinda request 'will be taken under advisement' by its board of directors. The automaker said it has not received any offers or proposals from Renault/Nissan about an alliance. GM said it would have no further comment.

Tracinda owns 9.9 percent of GM's common stock and is GM's third-largest shareholder. Kerkorian has pressured GM to take aggressive steps to restore profitability and his top aide, Jerome York, was elected to GM's board earlier this year.

The letter also indicates that Tracinda has reached out to Renault Chairman Louis Schweitzer and Nissan Chairman Carlos Ghosn to alert them to its contact with General Motors.

In a separate letter advising Schweitzer and Ghosn of the GM correspondence, Tracinda noted that 'as we recently discussed with Mr. Ghosn, Tracinda believes that General Motors, Renault and Nissan should explore a three-company, partnership-based alliance.'

Officials with Renault and Nissan declined comment.

Renault owns a 44.4 percent stake in Nissan, which in turn owns a 15 percent stake in Renault. Nissan was on the brink of bankruptcy when Ghosn was dispatched by Renault to lead the Japanese company in 1999. The Brazilian-born Ghosn engineered a cost-cutting and morale-boosting campaign that revived the automaker.

Συνεργασία GM με Renault και Nissan προτείνει ο Κερκoριάν

Η ΝΑΥΤΕΜΠΟΡΙΚΗ ON LINE
Παρασκευή, 30 Ιουνίου 2006 16:28
Τελευταία Ενημέρωση : 30/06/2006 16:45

Τη συμμετοχή της General Motors στη συμμαχία της Renault με τη Nissan Motor προτείνει ο Κιρκ Κερκοριάν, ένας από τους μεγαλύτερους μετόχους της πρώτης.

Όπως μεταδίδουν ξένα ειδησεογραφικά πρακτορεία, η Tracinda Corp, εταιρεία ιδιωτικών επενδύσεων του δισεκατομμυριούχου επενδυτή Κιρκ Κερκοριάν, απέστειλε στον πρόεδρο της GM, Ρικ Βαγκόνερ, επιστολή με την οποία προτείνει τη δημιουργία επιτροπής που θα διερευνήσει το ενδεχόμενο συνεργασίας με τη γαλλική Renault και την ιαπωνική Nissan.

Η μετοχή της General Motors στο χρηματιστήριο της Νέας Υόρκης άνοιξε με σημαντική άνοδο κατά 10%.

Nissan: Προοπτική συνεργασίας με την GM, άνοδος των μετοχών

Η ΝΑΥΤΕΜΠΟΡΙΚΗ ON LINE
Δευτέρα, 3 Ιουλίου 2006 08:54

ΑΝΟΔΟ έως 1,4% σημείωσαν οι μετοχές της δεύτερης σε μέγεθος αυτοκινητοβιομηχανίας της Ιαπωνίας, Nissan Motor Co., μετά την ανακοίνωση της εταιρείας την Παρασκευή ότι είναι ανοιχτή για τη δημιουργία συμμαχίας με την General Motors Corp.

Οι μετοχές σημείωσαν άνοδο έως 18 γιέν, φθάνοντας στα 1.268 γιέν [JPY=X] η μία και άλλαξαν χέρια στα 1.260 γιέν η μία στις 9:39 π.μ. στο Τόκυο. Οι μετοχές της Nissan έχουν σημειώσει φέτος άνοδο 6,3%.

Η Nissan και η Renault SA και οι δύο με επικεφαλής τον Κάρλος Γκοσν, ενδέχεται να αγοράσουν έως το 20% της General Motors σύμφωνα με δύο ανθρώπους που γνωρίζουν το θέμα. Ο μεγαλύτερος μέτοχος της GM, Κέρκ Κερκοριάν, πιέζει για μία συμμαχία μεταξύ των τριών αυτοκινητοβιομηχανιών προκειμένου η GM να μειώσει το κόστος της και να επιστρέψει στην κερδοφορία.

Η Renault, η οποία έχει στην κυριότητά της το 44% της Nissan θα συγκαλέσει αργότερα σήμερα σύσκεψη του διοικητικού της συμβουλίου για να συζητηθεί το εάν πρέπει να διευρυνθεί η συνεργασία, σύμφωνα με χθεσινή δήλωση του Γάλλου υπουργού Οικονομίας, Τιερί Μπρετόν.

Οι μετοχές της GM σημείωσαν άνοδο 8,6% στις 30 Ιουνίου, σημειώνοντας τη μεγαλύτερη άνοδο μέσα σε οκτώ μήνες, καθώς εικάζετο ότι ο Κερκοριάν, 89 ετών, θα πιέσει έναν συνδυασμό ο οποίος θα επιταχύνει την ανάκαμψη της GM, μετά από ζημίες ύψους 10,6 δισ. δολ., που εμφάνισε πέρυσι. Ο Γκοσν, οδήγησε τις μετοχές της Nissan 67% υψηλότερα την τελευταία πενταετία και της Renault σε ποσοστό 63%, σε αντίθεση με τις μετοχές τα GM, που σημείωσαν απώλειες 53%.

Παλαιότερα ο Γκοσν της Nissan είχε πει ότι θέλει μερίδιο τουλάχιστον 40% σε οποιαδήποτε συμμαχία με άλλη αυτοκινητοβιομηχανία. Η Nissan δεν πήρε μερίδιο στην Suzuki Motor Co., τη μεγαλύτερη αυτοκινητοβιομηχανία μικρών αυτοκινήτων της Ιαπωνίας, όταν οι δύο εταιρείες συμφώνησαν να προμηθεύουν η μία την άλλη με μοντέλα και να αρχίσουν κοινή παραγωγή οχημάτων στην Ινδία.