Everyone Is Rushing To Build Cars Here - But Doesn't "American-Made" Still Mean Inferior?

The Detroit Three build plenty of high-quality cars. Buick, Ford and Lincoln scored above average in the latest Vehicle Dependability Study from J.D. Power and Associates, and Cadillac ranked third in the study's rankings. J.D. Power's three-month Initial Quality Study had Cadillac, GMC, Chrysler's Ram trucks and Chevrolet ranking above average.

But a Harris Interactive poll released Wednesday said car owners still view American-made cars as inferior. Of 2,634 U.S. adults polled 35% said they find the quality of such vehicles inferior to those of imported cars, outpacing the 24% who said they find import brands inferior to domestics. However, a larger chunk (42%) deemed quality about the same.



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USNA1999 - 8/9/2012 5:34:57 PM

0 Boost

I don't think the cars will necessary be inferior. To me all it means is that both the YEN and EURO are currently worth a lot more than the greenback allowing the foreign automakers to build their cars much cheaper here in the USA (assuming the unions stay out of it). Most of the cars are "assembled" here and not built from the groud up.

MorePower - 8/9/2012 11:07:43 PM

+3 Boost

You, like a lot of people, keep confusing poor design with poor manufacturing. American cars in the past were not designed with tight manufacturing tolerances between gaps and panels.

I do not think BMW is having a problem selling X5's, Teslas selling out their production run of Roadsters or many of the other successful foreign models made in the United States.

macpowah - 8/10/2012 9:41:41 PM

+2 Boost

It all depends on the manufacturer. Honda started production in NA for the Accord back in 1986 I believe. Ever hear of quailty concenrs on the Accord or Civic (I'm not talking material choices, so don't even try)? Nope - they have always been put together well, regardless of where they were made. It's just much, much more cost effective considering the exchange rates with the Yen/Euro. It also helps with an automaker's reputation to have cars that are made in North America - especially since the US is the 1st or 2nd largest market for most auto manufacturers

mpls - 8/11/2012 3:11:40 AM

+2 Boost

American workers along with good manufacturing processes and procedures of the company can produce good quality products. Like for the japanese manufacturers who have invested and built plants in USA over the past 25+ years.