If you've been keeping up with the news at Ford, you know we’ve been focused on fundamentally transforming our quality. Recently, we earned the number one spot among mainstream brands in the JD Power 2026 Initial Quality Study (IQS) SM. That was a tremendous milestone for us, proving that our engineering, supply chain, and manufacturing processes are reducing defects. But building a great vehicle isn't just about what doesn't go wrong. It’s also about what goes incredibly right.
That’s why I am proud to share the results of the JD Power 2026 U.S. APEAL Study, which demonstrate we are making sustained strides in improving the things people genuinely love, beyond just delivering a high-quality vehicle.
If you aren't familiar with the APEAL (Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout) Study, it measures a customer's emotional attachment and level of excitement with their new vehicle's design, performance, safety, usability, and comfort after the first 90 days. It asks the question: After the ‘new car’ feeling has worn off and real life sets in, do you still love what you drive?
For Ford owners, the results are telling. The Ford brand improved 11 points overall to an 849 index score, jumping from 12th to 9th among mainstream brands and positioning us well above the mainstream average.
I’m proud of the consistency we are seeing in our passion products. Two of the nameplates that carried Ford to the APEAL podium last year did it again this year: The Ford Mustang was named the most appealing Sporty Car for the second year running, and the Ford Super Duty was named the most appealing Large Heavy-Duty Pickup for the third consecutive year.
