The automotive industry improved initial quality by 10% compared to 2001, the largest quality improvement for the industry since 1997, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2002 Initial Quality Study. Initial quality has improved by 24% during the past five years.
General Motors Corp. ranked third in new-car ratings, the highest of the domestic automakers and the best showing ever for a Detroit manufacturer. But GM still lags behind Japanese automakers Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Corp., which took first and second place honors, respectively.