JD Power China quality survey 2024 – Chery top local brand, Geely 2nd; GAC Honda leads mass market

Did you know that JD Power conducts Initial Quality Surveys (IQS) on vehicles in China? Neither did we, but this is actually its 25th year of doing so, and the fifth since it synchronised its US and Chinese surveys. This year, the company found that Chinese brands are closing the quality gap to foreign carmakers.

That statement is not quite accurate. Rather, Chinese brands have been keeping quality consistent while those from other countries have slipped back. Overall, the industry recorded an average of 212 problems per 100 vehicles (PP100) – an 8 PP100 increase from last year – with an average of 209 PP100 for premium brands, 213 for foreign mass market brands and 216 for domestic brands.

Furthermore, the figure for premium brands has risen by 21 PP100 over the past two years, compared to a 10 PP100 drop for local brands. There’s still a gap, but it’s hardly there.

The survey continues to be led by Porsche with a score of 192 PP100, with its closest premium competition being Lexus at 207 PP100 and Cadillac at 211 PP100. The soon-to-be-phased-out petrol-powered Porsche Macan and the Lexus NX both lead their respective segments.

Mass market brands aren’t too far behind, and of those, it’s actually Honda that is placed first and second, scoring 195 PP100 with GAC Honda and 198 PP100 with Dongfeng Honda. The company has a total of five segment-leading models, these being the Fit, Accord and Avancier from GAC Honda and the Civic and Elysion from Dongfeng Honda. Close behind, GAC Toyota hits the 200 PP100 mark, while FAW Toyota receives 201 PP100.

As for the local brands, surprise, surprise – Chery leads the way with a score of 203 PP100, with the Tiggo 7 Plus (known to you and me as the Tiggo 7 Pro) being at the top of its class. Just 1 PP100 separates it and the next best brand, Geely (204 PP100), while GAC Trumpchi completes the podium with a score of 206 PP100 and one class-leading car, the Emkoo.

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Interestingly, Land Rover has bucked the global trend of finishing near the bottom of quality surveys by netting fourth place among premium brands with a score of 212 PP100, beating Volvo (also 212 PP100) and BMW (213 PP100).

Despite its E- and S-Class models topping their respective segments, both Mercedes-Benz (215 PP100) and its Fujian Benz joint venture (219 PP100) filled up the final five spots, together with Audi (215 PP100), SAIC Audi (218 PP100) and Lincoln (230 PP100). As for the mass market brands, the three marques the brought up the rear were GWM’s Haval (245 PP100), Dongfeng Nissan (248 PP100) and the latter’s joint venture brand Venucia (254 PP100).

This year, the survey found that customers paid greater attention to cabin comfort, with a year-on-year increase in seat and climate control issues. However, exterior quality remained the most problematic area, accounting for 15% of total quality complaints.

Other problem areas include driving assistance and parking cameras, which were often marked down for poor quality, low resolution, dirty lenses and bothersome alerts. Issues related to these components increased to an average of 10 PP100, an increase of 2 PP100 from last year. Female drivers also reported more issues in terms of a car’s driving experience, infotainment and powertrains compared to their male counterparts.

The JD Power China IQS 2024 survey is based on responses from 31,942 owners of vehicles with internal combustion engines alone, purchased between June 2023 and March 2024. A total of 221 models from 48 different brands were surveyed across 81 major Chinese cities. In case you were wondering where hybrid and electric vehicles were, they are covered in a separate new energy vehicle (NEV) study, which is why BYD is conspicuously absent here.

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