Among other things, the German manufacturers are struggling with software problems.
(Photo: Reuters)
new York Disappointing news for German automakers comes from the renowned analyst firm JD Power from Michigan, which publishes its “Vehicle Dependability Study” once a year. All manufacturers have great respect for the findings on the reliability and repair susceptibility of the car brands sold in the USA, as they are considered an important indicator of the industry.
The results this year are sobering, especially for cars from German manufacturers. Lexus, Genesis, Kia, Buick and Chevrolet are in the top five most reliable brands, i.e. those with the fewest production errors and breakdowns per 100 vehicles. The European and German companies are far behind in the lower places, only BMW is just above the industry average.
Specifically, the German manufacturers occupy places 15 (BMW), 20 (Porsche), 24 (Volkswagen) and 27 (Mercedes-Benz). The result for Audi was particularly bitter: The VW premium brand is in third from last 30th place ahead of Lincoln and Land Rover.
German manufacturers have fallen sharply behind
The picture was very different just a decade ago: in 2012, Porsche took second place, Mercedes-Benz ninth and BMW was still tenth in the ranking. But even compared to the previous year, German manufacturers will fall further behind in 2023.
“It is remarkable that Buick and Chevy in particular perform significantly better than the Europeans,” explains Christian Koenig. The car expert has worked for Porsche in North America and runs an electromobility consultancy in Atlanta. “It is also worth noting that even Tesla is ahead of Audi. These results are unlikely to spark a storm of enthusiasm in German company headquarters.”
The authors of the study cite software errors as one of the reasons – an area in which German manufacturers have traditionally weakened.
In the first 90 days to three years after purchase, errors in the starter battery, outdated maps, problems with the smartphone connection via Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and problems with voice recognition are frequently observed. “The increase in problems in the technology sector shows how important over-the-air updates can be” to fix bugs quickly, is the conclusion of the authors.
Cars from 32 brands were examined. The study is based on responses from 30,062 original owners of 2020 model year vehicles after three years of service.
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