Dodge Challenger, Charger and Durango Top Their Segments in J.D. Power and Associates 2011 APEAL Study

FYI: Dodge Buyer's Guide

FYI: Jeep Buyer's Guide

AUBURN HILLS, MI--July 27, 2011:

• Dodge earns three segment awards for Challenger, Charger, Durango
• Dodge Charger is most improved vehicle in the industry
• Jeep and Chrysler brands improve significantly in APEAL Study

The Dodge brand earned three awards as the Dodge Challenger, Charger and Durango led their segments in the J.D. Power and Associates 2011 Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study(SM).

The Dodge Charger ranked highest in the Large Car segment and was the most improved model in the industry. The Dodge Challenger scored highest in the Midsize Sporty Car class and Dodge Durango took the top spot in the Midsize Crossover/SUV segment.

The Jeep brand improved by 32 points and Chrysler increased by 27 points compared to the industry's average improvement of three points.

"We've listened to our customers and made significant improvements across the product line, launching 16 all-new or extensively updated vehicles in the past year," said Doug Betts, Senior Vice President -- Quality, Chrysler Group. "We worked very hard to make our vehicles truly competitive with the best vehicles in their respective segments. It's nice to see this effort being recognized by our customers."

According to J.D. Power and Associates, vehicles with high APEAL scores generate faster sales, higher profit margins, and less need for cash incentives. High levels of vehicle appeal also influence customer recommendation rates.

In the recently announced J.D. Power and Associates 2011 Initial Quality Study (SM) (IQS), the Dodge Challenger and the Chrysler Town & Country ranked highest in their respective segments for initial quality.

The APEAL Study examines how gratifying a new vehicle is to own and drive, based on owner evaluations of more than 80 vehicle attributes. Unlike IQS, which measures short-term quality, the APEAL Study identifies consumer likes and dislikes about their vehicle during the first 90 days of ownership, particularly regarding vehicle design, content, layout and performance.

"Different customers have different opinions about what makes a quality vehicle," Betts explained. "At Chrysler Group, we define and measure six different types of quality. We've set aggressive internal targets and our progress is starting to show up in third-party surveys as well."