Good reputation there? German automakers like BMW don’t cut a good figure
The German car brands traditionally stand for quality and satisfy high demands. BMW, Mercedes, VW and Co. have done a lot to ensure that “Made in Germany” is considered a sign of quality. In the meantime, however, there is not much left of the good reputation.
German manufacturers smear: BMW and Co. no more figureheads
This is the result of the “Vehicle Dependability Study” by the US analysts from JD Power, which is highly regarded in the industry. It will be annual Reliability and susceptibility to repairs of brands of cars sold in the United States. VW, Mercedes, BMW, Porsche and Audi have been involved in the study for years.
But in the current study, practically all represented German brands crashed heavily. Best can still keep BMW. The Bayern land in 15th place of 32 brands and thus just above average. Porsche comes in 20th place, VW lands in 24th place, Mercedes in 27th place. Worst of all, however, is VW’s premium brand Audi affected. 30th place out of 32 is a real slap in the face for the Ingolstadt company – also because it puts you behind Tesla, who are more notorious than famous for their quality.
The first five places are occupied by Lexus, Genesis, Kia, Buick and Chevrolet. The Asian manufacturers in particular can pat themselves on the back for their reliability: Lexus belongs to Toyota, while Genesis and Kia are brands of the Hyundai group.
Not only since the US study has it been clear: German car manufacturers have to be wary of the competition.
Ten years ago, Porsche, for example, was the German figurehead in second place, Mercedes and BMW ended up in 9th and 10th place. But the German brands have slipped down again in a year-on-year comparison, so that Handelsblatt.
Software becomes the weak point of German brands
The study evaluates how often or rarely production errors or breakdowns occur per 100 vehicles. According to the analysts, the reason for the crash is often the software, with which the German manufacturers still – and again and again – have problems. The more common problems would include starter battery failures, as well Problems with smartphone integration via Apple Car Play or Android Auto as well as with voice recognition. In their study, the experts conclude: Over-the-air updates (OTA) are becoming increasingly important for the automotive industry.
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