- Kia Motors (OTCPK:KIMTF) topped J.D. Power's annual U.S. survey of vehicle quality, the first time in 27 years that a non-luxury brand scored the top ranking.
- Kia ranked first among 33 car brands in the study, moving up from second place a year ago. Porsche, the sports luxury brand owned by Volkswagen (OTCPK:VLKAF, VLKAY), came in second after finishing first last year.
- U.S. brands scored better marks collectively than their foreign counterparts for only the second time in the study's 30-year history; brands at GM, Ford (NYSE:F) and Fiat Chrysler's (NYSE:FCAU) U.S. arm improved quality scores 10% from 2015, double the improvement rate of foreign brands.
- The survey also showed that for the first time in a decade, owners of vehicles from non-premium brands reported fewer problems than those who own the more expensive cars, SUVs and pickup trucks.