Ford Takes Top Plant, Tops Five Model Segments

For the first time since 1999, a North AmericanThe Silver Quality Plant Award meanwhile went to
assembly plant receives the Platinum Plant Qualitythe Mercedes-Benz Sindelfingen, Germany, plant,
Award for producing vehicles yielding the fewestwhich produces the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, CL-Class,
defects.CLS-Class, E-Class Sedan, E-Class Wagon, and S-Class.
J.D. Power has given the Platinum Plant Quality AwardAudi's Neckarsulm, Germany, plant, which produces
for producing vehicles with the fewest defects tothe Audi A6 Avant, A6 Sedan, A8 Sedan, RS 4
Ford's Wixom Assembly Plant in Michigan, whichSedan, S6 Sedan and S8 Sedan, received the Bronze
stopped making cars last May 31. The Detroit-areaPlant Quality Award.
plant produced the Lincoln Town Car, which averagesThe 2007 Initial Quality Study is based on responses
35 problems per 100 vehicles. Plant awards are basedfrom more than 97,000 purchasers and lessees of
solely on defect counts.new 2007 model-year cars and trucks surveyed after
Other honorees among North and South American90 days of ownership. The study is based on a
plants are the General Motors Oshawa 2 plant in228-question battery designed to provide
Ontario, Canada -- which produces the Buickmanufacturers with information to facilitate problem
LaCrosse and Pontiac Grand Prix, for the Silver Plantdetermination and drive product improvement.
Quality Award; and American Honda's East Liberty,Aside from getting the Platinum Plant Quality Award
Ohio, plant, which produces the Honda Civic Sedanfor producing vehicles yielding the fewest defects,
and Honda Element, for the Bronze Plant QualityFord Motor Company also took five top model
Award.segment awards -- more than any other automobile
In the Asia Pacific region, Toyota's Kyushu, Japan,corporation this year -- in the J.D. Power and
plant, which produces the Lexus ES 350, Lexus ISAssociates 2007 Initial Quality Study released
250/IS 350, Lexus RX 350, Lexus RX 400h andWednesday last week.
Toyota Highlander/Highlander Hybrid received theIn the study, Ford earned model segment awards for
Gold Plant Quality Award.the Ford Mustang, Lincoln Mark LT, Lincoln MKZ,
The Silver Plant Quality Award went to anotherMercury Milan, and Mazda MX-5 Miata. Mazda, maker
Toyota plant -- Toyota's Fujimatsu, Japan, plant,of top of the line Mazda water pump, is 33.4 percent
which produces the Toyota Prius. American Honda'sowned by Ford.
Sayama, Japan, and Suzuka, Japan, plants tied for theFord's Lincoln nameplate, which received two
Bronze Plant Quality Award. The Sayama plantsegment awards, improved to rank third in 2007,
produces the Acura RL, Acura TSX, Honda Accordclimbing from the 12th spot in 2006.
Sedan/Hybrid Sedan and Honda CR-V. The SuzukaThe Initial Quality Study serves as the industry
plant produces the Honda Civic Sedan/Hybrid Sedan,benchmark for new-vehicle quality measured at 90
Fit and S2000.days of ownership and captures problems
BMW's Regensburg, Germany, plant, which producesexperienced by owners in two distinct categories --
the BMW 3-Series Coupe and 3-Series Sedan,quality of design and quality of production.
received the Gold Plant Quality Award for Europe.