HUMMER Brand Shows ‘Greatest Improvement’ In Recent JD Power Quality Results
SOUTH BEND – AM General received good news on May 18, 2005, when JD Power and Associates announced its latest quality results for 2005.
The HUMMER brand, which is owned by General Motors, was listed as the most improved brand in the industry in terms of quality. HUMMER H2 vehicles are assembled at AM General’s HUMMER H2 Assembly Plant in Mishawaka, Indiana.
HUMMER also jumped into the top 10 brands and was ranked with brands performing above the industry average. HUMMER led all brands with a 36 percent improvement, the best in the industry.
Since its debut in the 2003 JD Power IQS (Initial Quality Study), HUMMER has reduced reported problems by 115 problems per 100 vehicles. In the latest study, the industry average for problems per 100 vehicles is 118, one point lower than for 2004.
HUMMER came in at 110 problems per 100 vehicles, well below the average of 119 for its Luxury SUV Class. This compares to a 173 score last year…an improvement of 63 points. Of note was a 113 score for the HUMMER H2 SUT, which was considered a newly launched vehicle.
With the 110 score, HUMMER is breathing down the neck of several notable brands like Infinity, Audi and Toyota. It was tied for 10th with the Hyundai brand.
Overall, GM has performed well during the past year and has the highest number of segment leaders in its history at five. "The 2005 IQS results contain some genuinely good news for General Motors," said Chance Parker, executive director of product and research analysis at J.D. Power and Associates. "The improvements of the quality of several models and at their North American plants are both very positive signs.”
“This good news for HUMMER is a direct result of your hard work,” Kevin Rahrig, H2 Plant Manager, told employees. “All of our focused JD Power efforts throughout the plant during the past year have paid off!”
Rahrig challenged the workers for the coming year, reminding them that “continued improvement will be harder to come by after this big jump.”
IQS is a model-level study. It measures 135 attributes across nine categories, including ride/handling/braking, engine and transmission, and a broad range of quality problems reported by vehicle owners.
The 2005 Initial Quality Study is based on responses from more than 62,000 purchasers and lessees of new 2005 model-year cars and trucks, who were surveyed after 90 days of ownership. This industry benchmark study for new-vehicle initial quality is now in its 19th year.
Complete details of the JD Power release can be found on the World Wide Web at JDPower.com.
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