New vehicles from General Motors (GM) improved 10 per cent in initial quality year-over-year according to the influential J D Power and Associates 2009 US Initial Quality Study (IQS).

The J D Power and Associates 2009 Initial Quality Study provides information gathered from over 80,000 purchasers and lessees of 2009 model-year vehicles. New vehicle quality was measured according to problems experienced per 100 vehicles at 90 days of ownership.

The study is used extensively by automakers worldwide to help design and build better vehicles and to help consumers make more informed choices for both new and used vehicles.

For the 2009 study, thirteen GM models ranked in the top three of their segment, up two from 2008. GM ranked highest in the Large Multi Activity segment with the GMC Yukon/Yukon XL, the Chevrolet Tahoe ranked second and the Chevrolet Suburban ranked third.

In the Midsize Multi Activity vehicle segment, the Chevrolet TrailBlazer ranked highest in a tie. Cadillac was the most improved GM brand, with an exceptional 19 per cent year-on-year improvement, and ranked third in the overall nameplate rankings.

Sources at J D Power and Associates said: “Achieving high levels of initial quality in all-new models is one of the greatest challenges for manufacturers. Now that more manufacturers are getting their launch quality right straight out of the gate, consumers can expect the quality of new vehicles to continue to rise.”

Duminda Unantenne, General Motors Middle East quality manager, said: “We are proud of GM’s results in the 2009 Initial Quality Study, especially in the Large Multi Activity segment.”

“The GM products in this segment are very popular with our customers in the Middle East, and it makes us happy to know we’re giving them a quality product,” he added. – TradeArabia News Service