New vehicles from General Motors (GM) improved 10 percent in initial quality year-over-year according to the influential J.D. Power and Associates 2009 US Initial Quality Study (IQS). The J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Initial Quality Study provides information gathered from over 80,000 purchasers and lessees of 2009 model-year vehicles. New vehicle quality was measured according to problems experienced per 100 vehicles at 90 days of ownership. The study is used extensively by automakers worldwide to help design and build better vehicles and to help consumers make more informed choices for both new and used vehicles. For the 2009 study, thirteen GM models ranked in the top three of their segment, up two from 2008. GM ranked highest in the Large Multi Activity segment with the GMC Yukon/Yukon XL, the Chevrolet Tahoe ranked second and the Chevrolet Suburban ranked third. In the Midsize Multi Activity vehicle segment, the Chevrolet TrailBlazer ranked highest in a tie. Cadillac was the most improved GM brand, with an exceptional 19 percent year-on-year improvement, and ranked third in the overall nameplate rankings. According to J.D. Power and Associates “Achieving high levels of initial quality in all-new models is one of the greatest challenges for manufacturers. Now that more manufacturers are getting their launch quality right straight out of the gate, consumers can expect the quality of new vehicles to continue to rise. “We are proud of GM's results in the 2009 Initial Quality Study, especially in the Large Multi Activity segment. The GM products in this segment are very popular with our customers in the Middle East, and it makes us happy to know we're giving them a quality product,” said Duminda Unantenne, General Motors Middle East Quality Manager. General Motors Corp., one of the world's largest automakers, was founded in 1908, and today manufactures cars and trucks in 34 countries. In 2008, GM sold 8.35 million cars and trucks globally under the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, Hummer, Opel, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn, Vauxhall and Wuling. GM's largest national market is the United States, followed by China, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Canada, Russia and Germany. More information on GM can be found at www.gm.com. In the Middle East since the 1920s, GM's vehicle brands sold in the region are Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, HUMMER and Saab supported by a unique set of customer-focused services. GM parts and accessories are sold under the GM Parts and ACDelco brands. The regional office in Dubai covers the company's operations in Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, UAE and Yemen. In 2008, GM sold 144, 485 vehicles in the Middle East, a 6 percent increase over 2007.
