(The Associated Press)
Toyota brands lead in satisfaction survey
Improved customer satisfaction with Japanese automakers helped boost the auto industry's overall score by 1.2 percent in the American Customer Satisfaction Index. The index, which is based on customer evaluations, ranked Toyota, Lexus and Cadillac as the top nameplates, with all three scoring 87 out of 100. The industry average was 83. Japanese automakers' scores dropped last year after a string of recalls, but aggressive incentives to woo and maintain customers helped rebuild satisfaction, the survey found.
--New York Times News Service
(Fiat)
Fiat, Gucci pair up for high-fashion 500
Fiat will introduce a Gucci version of its 500 mini car in the U.S. later this year. The black special edition of the car features glossy paint, chrome detailing and a leather interior with white accents. It has the Italian fashion label's interlocking "GG" inscription on the headrests and wheels, and Gucci's signature green-and-red stripe along the body side, the seat belt and seat backs. It will be introduced Sept. 8 at the start of New York Fashion Week but won't hit showrooms until December.
--The Associated Press
(Honda)
Top automaker websites led by Honda
Auto manufacturer website appearance is a growing influence on shopper satisfaction, according to a new J.D. Power and Associates website study. The Manufacturer Website Evaluation Study asks car shoppers to evaluate websites for appearance, speed, navigation and information/content. The top five sites were Honda, Ford, Lincoln, Nissan and Porsche. The brands with the biggest gains in satisfaction were Buick, Jeep, Volkswagen and smart. Those brands reduced the amount of visual clutter on their home page, streamlined the main models menu, increased font sizes, better organized text and incorporated accent colors.
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