Rwd Texas Auto Power Control Audio Dual Zone Climate Ranch Hand Grill Guard on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Satisfaction with dealer service rises, Lexus and GMC are tops

During the economic downturn, many car dealerships counteracted their slowing income by focusing on things that would set them apart from competition - things like the quality of customer service they provide. When the economy picked up and more sales and service followed, many also first invested those funds back into the business, improving their dealership facilities and service centers.
It looks like those investments are paying off, as J.D. Power and Associates' latest Customer Service Index Study shows that overall consumer satisfaction with dealer service has increased to 797 (on a 1,000-point scale), up from 787 in 2012 and 29 points higher than the score in 2011. The study also finds that people are more satisfied with the service they get at dealerships compared to independent service providers, despite the much higher average out-of-pocket cost per visit ($118 vs. $44).
Note, however, that this study only looks at how people are treated by a dealer's service department during the first three years of ownership (the survey is based on responses from 91,000 owners and lessees of 2008 to 2012 model year vehicles), so we're talking about the experience had when bringing a car in for repair or maintenance work, most likely under warranty. In fact, maintenance work is increasing in share and accounted for 77 percent of service visits (up from 72 percent in 2012 and 63 percent in 2011). This helps explain why customer satisfaction has also risen, since a properly maintained car is one that's less likely to require a dealer visit for an unexpected repair.

370,000 new Silverado and Sierra pickups recalled over fire risk

General Motors announced late Friday that it will recall around 370,000 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra fullsize pickups from the 2014 model year over a possible fire risk. The recall covers select 4.3-liter V6 and 5.3-liter V8 models, which can evidently suffer engine compartment fires due to the overheating of exhaust components. GM notes that the fire issue may be preceded by a check engine light and an "engine power reduced" message on the driver information display.
Thus far, GM is aware of eight fires stemming from this problem (although only three of those incidents affected customer-owned vehicles), and all of the fires were reported in areas with "very cold weather." GM is urging owners to not leave their vehicles unintended while idling. No injuries have resulted from the fires in question.
The Detroit-based automaker has pledged to start mailing out recall letters on January 16. The fix, which involves software reprogramming, is estimated to be a 20-minute repair, and will be made free of charge.

2022 GMC Hummer EV could get a rival from China's Dongfeng

The popularity of GMC's Hummer EV hasn't gone unnoticed in China. State-owned carmaker Dongfeng is reportedly planning to launch an electric version of the M50 Warrior, a Hummer-like off-roader, that will inaugurate a new sub-brand dedicated to battery-powered trucks. Without citing sources, website Car News China wrote that the division will be called M, a letter that stands for something completely different if the cars that you're into come from Munich. Executives are initially planning three models called M18-1, M18-2, and M18-3, respectively. The M18-1 will reach the market first, and it's described as an electrified M50 Warrior (pictured) with seating for six. Dongfeng will build the M18-1 on a new architecture called MORV that was developed in-house. The powertrain will develop up to 1,072 horsepower, which is 72 horses more than the most powerful version of the Hummer EV, yet the zero-to-60-mph time will check in at under 5 seconds, which is roughly 2 seconds more than the GMC. It will offer around 310 miles of range thanks to a 140-kilowatt-hour battery. Another interesting point is that the M18-1 will supposedly be much lighter than the Hummer EV — it will even weigh less than the gasoline-powered M50 Warrior that it's based on. It will tip the scale at around 6,900 pounds and stretch about 205 inches long, compared to 9,046 pounds and 217 inches for the Hummer. Of course, these numbers are purely hypothetical until the truck starts rolling off the assembly line. Speaking of, production is tentatively scheduled to start in 2023 in a factory that's currently being built in China. Dongfeng expects to sell approximately 4,160 units per month, though nothing suggests that the M18-1 will venture onto the GMC Hummer EV's home turf. Related video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Green GMC SUV Electric Off-Road Vehicles