Mercedes Regains Luster in JDP Quality Survey

Washington DC June 22, 2010; The AIADA newsletter reported that for the first time in 21 years, Mercedes-Benz beat Lexus in one of the industry's most watched initial quality studies. Now it's aiming for the top overall spot, according to Automotive News.

In the 2010 J.D. Power and Associates U.S. Initial Quality Survey, Mercedes was third, up from sixth in 2009. Lexus plunged from the top slot in 2009 to fourth this year. Porsche AG was first, followed by Honda Motor Co.'s Acura division.

J.D. Power has been conducting the survey for 24 years, and Mercedes-Benz was quality king before Lexus arrived in the United States in 1989. Mercedes was first in initial quality in 1987, dropped to second place in 1988, regained the crown in 1989 and lost it to Lexus in 1990.

Click here to see J.D. Power’s full Initial Quality Survey report. In recent years – especially since the arrival of Mercedes-Benz USA CEO Ernst Lieb – Daimler AG's Mercedes brand has been hellbent on regaining its premier status in the luxury-car world.

So what did Mercedes do? It had nearly flawless launches of two redesigned vehicles, the C-class and E-class sedans. And Mercedes made the current-generation M-class SUV nearly bulletproof in its final year, before a redesigned model goes on sale.