J.D. Power: Ford ACD Has the Highest Quality Audio Head Units
20 November 1997
J.D. Power and Associates Reports:
Ford ACD Has the Highest Quality Audio
Head Units of North American-Built Vehicles
AGOURA HILLS, Calif., Nov. 20 -- Ford ACD -- now part of Ford
Motor Company's component group Visteon Automotive Systems -- is the "Highest
Quality Head Unit Supplier" among first-tier suppliers for North American-
built vehicles, in the J.D. Power and Associates 1997 Audio Quality
Report(SM). The study is a supplier-focused analysis describing consumer
evaluations of their factory-installed audio systems' sound quality, design
and ease of operation.
This honor is awarded to the audio head unit supplier sourcing 1997 North
American-built vehicles with the fewest consumer-reported problems after three
months of ownership. Owners of vehicles with head units supplied by Ford ACD
reported 3.6 problems per 100 vehicles as compared to the industry average of
5.1. Ford ACD supplies a wide variety of head unit types to Ford, Lincoln and
Mercury cars and light trucks, as well as for the Nissan Quest and Mazda
pickup. Fujitsu Ten -- which supplies head units to the North American-built
Toyota Camry and Honda Passport -- and Delco, General Motors' primary audio
supplier, follow Ford ACD's lead respectively.
The J.D. Power and Associates 1997 Audio Quality Report includes
information on both Things Gone Right (TGR), which measures what consumers
like and dislike about their sound systems, and Things Gone Wrong (TGW), or
reported problems. The purpose is to provide suppliers with an expanded
understanding of customer satisfaction and consumer perceived product quality.
"As more responsibility shifts from vehicle manufacturers to suppliers,
uncovering consumer perceptions of component design, quality and appeal is
critical," commented Melissa Ross, manager of supplier services at J.D. Power
and Associates. "Suppliers that will succeed in today's competitive
environment will be those that can improve their products, on both TGR and
TGW, while balancing the ever-present pressures to reduce costs," Ms. Ross
said.
The report looks at TGW and TGR variation by head unit type. The majority
of new-vehicle owners surveyed in the 1997 Audio Quality Report had either an
AM/FM radio with cassette (49%) or an AM/FM radio with cassette and compact
disc player (28%). The two other head unit types analyzed in the report are a
base AM/FM radio and an AM/FM radio with CD player. The study reveals that
the more complex the head unit type, the higher the number of consumer-
reported problems. However, these more complex head units_with more than one
type of media playback_also earned higher customer satisfaction ratings.
The J.D. Power and Associates 1997 Audio Quality Report is based on data
from the firm's Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout study (APEAL).
The APEAL study is based on responses from over 29,000 new-car and -truck
owners after three months of ownership. The Audio Quality Report is the
second in a series of four component-focused studies published by J.D. Power
and Associates. Additional reports focus on seat systems, vehicle interiors
and HVAC systems.
J.D. Power and Associates is an international firm best known for its
marketing information services in key business sectors including market
research, forecasting and customer satisfaction. The firm's quality and
satisfaction measurements are based on actual customer responses from over a
million consumers annually. With its headquarters in Agoura Hills,
California, the firm also has U.S. offices in Torrance, California; Michigan;
and Connecticut. Its international locations include Japan, Korea, England,
Canada and Brazil.
J.D. Power and Associates can be accessed through the World Wide Web at
http://www.jdpower.com. Email: info@jdpower.com.
No advertising or other promotional use can be made of the information in
this release or J.D. Power and Associates survey results without the express
prior written consent of J.D. Power and Associates.
Top 3 Primary Head Unit Suppliers
Things Gone Wrong Ranking by Origin
North American-Built Vehicles
Industry Average = 5.1 Problems Per 100
Supplier: Supplied to:
Ford ACD Ford Motor Co., Mazda, Nissan 3.6
Fujitsu Ten Toyota, Honda 3.7
Delco General Motors 3.8
Top 3 primary Head Unit Suppliers
Things Gone Right Ranking by Origin
North American-Built Vehicles
Industry Average = 695
Supplier: Supplied to:
Mitsubishi Chrysler, Mitsubishi, Volvo 725
Ford ACD Ford Motor Co., Mazda, Nissan 710
Delco General Motors 700
SOURCE J.D. Power & Associates
