Once the stars of the auto industry,
why is the quality of German cars out of sync with their stellar reputation?
Buckle up 'cause this could get messy. What’s going on with German cars?
You know, the ones that used to be the cool kids on the reliability block? Well, turns out,
the ride might be a bit bumpier now. Let's spill the tea on why German cars
just aren’t living up to their hype anymore. According to US non-profit organization...
Consumer Reports’ 2023 reliability survey:
Mercedes ranks 29th, Volkswagen 27th and Audi is 19th. Ouch!
Squeezing into the Top 10 are Porsche and BMW in 8th and 9th place respectively....
Engineering was limited from the management.
That’s Tom Fischer, an expert in restoring classic cars, who sheds light on a growing
concern. He says managerial decisions have restricted certain aspects of
innovative engineering. And that’s at odds with Germany’s tradition of engineering excellence.
Then there's the German auto association’s Martin Ruhdorfer, dropping some truth
bombs about how cutting corners during production might mess with your reputation:
Try slashing production costs for too long and you run the risk of damaging your image at some point.
Remember the glory days when German cars were as reliable as Old
Faithful? Or as an old VW Beetle ad put it: This car runs and runs and runs and runs…
Germany and cars, they go way back! Let's rewind to 1886 when the automobile was born in Germany.
Karl Benz set the stage for the triumph of the "Made in Germany" quality label.
Back in the 1930s, Mercedes was crushing it on the racetrack, building up the hype for
German cars. And Germany's racing scene? The stuff of legend: from the Silver Arrows to
Michael Schumacher, seven-time Formula One world champion.
Those days are history …. The era of delayed recalls and
manipulated tests began...Starting with the now infamous Diesel scandal, a seismic event that
shook the automotive landscape in 2015. It came to light that several German car manufacturers,
notably Volkswagen, had employed deceptive software to manipulate
emissions tests, creating a façade of compliance.
This revelation triggered mass recalls, substantial financial penalties,
and a severe dent in the once-unblemished reputation of these iconic automakers.
So how long can they ride the fame train, given incidents like these?
Journalist Niko Ganzer launched a website where German consumers could find out about recalls
and other behind-the-scenes car drama. Because, after Dieselgate, transparency was a must.
My main intention was to bring in at least a rudimentary transparency,
similar to what exists in the US. There, on the websites of the respective authorities,
you’ll find most everything on the subject of recalls.
Fast forward to today, and German cars aren't rocking the reliability charts
anymore. Remember how Porsche and BMW just made the Top 10 in Consumer Reports’ latest survey?
Audi, Volkswagen and Mercedes all ranked far behind.
Every year, Consumer Reports asks its members about the problems
they've experienced with their vehicles over the
last 12 months. Their most recent survey includes data on over 330,000 vehicles
even a few early 2024 models. “The German cars, what we see is that
cars have become increasingly sophisticated, but sometimes it causes issues for the customers.“
German automobile association ADAC identified
other problems in its 2022 car check. In newer models that have come out in the
last couple years, cheaper materials tend to have been used. Roof trim panels are no
longer covered in fabric, and everything under the door handles and armrests is
simply molded and made of hard plastic. The next challenge – electric cars. German
automakers aim to be major players in the EV game, but they're a little late to the party.
Plus, these high-tech cars are complex,
so software glitches have been common. Folks who’ve splurged on pricey rides -- often
dropping more than 130,000 Euros -- say the tech sometimes goes crazy.
Still, some industry veterans think the Germans can ace it.
Electric energy, electric motors and digital services in the car - the German manufacturers,
they work very hard to take those new competencies on board. If they can do
this, they will have the better cars because they know how to build a car.
So, are German cars still reliable, or are they losing their mojo? What
do you think? Don't forget to hit subscribe and share your ride-or-die thoughts below.