Chrysler Group, the makers of Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep brands, has been cited by industry analysts as the main drag on DaimlerChrysler AG's lower than average rating - the industry average is 133 problems per 100 vehicles - frustrating the automaker's luxury brand Mercedes-Benz who, guilty by association, finds themselves 15 problems per 100 vehicles behind arch-rival BMW, itself at 124 problems and only 4th from the list's top position.
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| Respected luxury brand Mercedes-Benz is losing face to arch-rival BMW in this year's IQS, reportedly due to its ties with Chrysler Group. J.D. Powers categorizes all namebrands of each global manufacturer under one umbrella rating. (Photo: DaimlerChrysler) |
With the pressure on the domestic automaker to step up its efforts, Chrysler Group showed a few of its quality improvement plans in March of this year. First the carmaker has doubled its powertrain tests from 160,000 to 320,000 km (100,000 - 200,000 miles). Next Chrysler plans to reduce the amount of seatbelt systems in its various vehicles from 28 to 10.
Ironically this type of quality control will inevitable save the automaker money, which could turn out to be a win, win situation for DaimlerChrysler in the end.