General Motors’ Buick brand performed well in the 2022 China Initial Quality Study (IQS) conducted by J.D. Power, mirroring its performance from 2021.
The J.D. Power China IQS aims to identify the automotive brands and models that offer the highest degree of perceived initial quality. The results of this year’s China IQS are based on the survey responses of 3,914 new vehicle owners who purchased their vehicles between June 2021 and March 2022. Participants were asked to rank their vehicle on 218 problem symptoms across nine specific categories, including exterior, interior, infotainment system, seats, driving experience, driving assistance, powertrain, climate and features, controls and displays. Each brand is then given a score based on the problems experienced per 100 vehicles sold (PP100).
Buick was ranked third overall among mass-market brands in the 2022 China IQS with a PP100 score of 207. This was well above the mass-market brand average score of 219 and saw it beat key rival brands like Changan Ford, FAW Toyota and SAIC Volkswagen. GAC Honda led the way among mass-market brands with a score of 193, followed by Dongfeng Honda in second with a score of 205.
In addition, the Buick Verano Pro received a segment-level award in this study, beating the Honda Civic and Toyota Allion to top the Midsize Upper Economy Segment. The Buick Verano Pro is a China-only compact sedan that was first unveiled at the 2021 Shanghai Auto Show.
Somewhat surprisingly, exterior problems were commonly reported by participants of the study. Excessive road noise and headlights being not bright enough were the two problems with the highest increases in complaints over last year’s study, however an unpleasant interior smell was the most common overall. Excessively sensitive brakes and excessively uncomfortable seats also saw a year-over-year increase.
J.D. Power says supply chain challenges and other industry hurdles are having an impact on vehicle quality in China, which fell dramatically year-over-year.
“From the beginning of design to the quality management system, production process optimization and the collaboration of the supply chain, every part needs to be refined to achieve the final quality improvement,” the research firm concluded. “With the advent of the intelligence era, the quality problems caused by design is rising. Manufacturers should pay more attention to the R&D and design stage to improve new-vehicle quality.”
Subscribe to GM Authority for more J.D. Power and Associates news, GM China news, Buick news and around-the-clock General Motors news coverage.
Comment
Not mentioned was Chevrolet was way down, just a tick above the bottom of the list.