Chicago-Built Ford Explorer and Taurus Named Top Premium Mid-Size Crossover SUV and Top Large Car

May 19, 2011 - PRLog -- DEARBORN, Mich., May 19, 2011 – Today AutoPacific named the Ford Motor Company Explorer as top premium mid-size crossover SUV and the Taurus as top large car, a tie with the Toyota Avalon, in its 15th annual Vehicle Satisfaction Awards (VSA).  The awards aim to help consumers make informed vehicle purchase decisions and this year the Chicago-built Explorer and Taurus are just two of the seven Ford vehicles named.
"We are so pleased to have been honored with this award," said Jan Allman, Ford Chicago Assembly Plant Manager. "This is an honor for all of our employees who work so hard every day at our Chicago Assembly Plant to build fantastic products– highlighting Ford's commitment to excellence."

The Vehicle Satisfaction Award from AutoPacific is an industry benchmark for measuring how satisfied an owner is with his or her new vehicle. Winners are based on a study by the Southern California-based automotive research firm that summarizes results from more than 68,000 new vehicle owners.

“Proof of satisfied customers is as good as gold,” says George Peterson, president of AutoPacific. “We’ve found that more than one-third of new car buyers are positively influenced by objective awards based on owner ratings when deciding on a new car or truck.”

“Vehicles that score highest in the Vehicle Satisfaction Awards are delivering value and satisfaction across a wide range of attributes,” says Peterson. “The winners perform well in 48 separate categories that objectively measure the ownership experience.”



About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 166,000 employees and about 70 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit www.ford.com.

About AutoPacific
AutoPacific is a future-oriented automotive marketing and product-consulting firm. Every year AutoPacific publishes a wide variety of syndicated studies on the automotive industry. The firm also conducts extensive proprietary research and consulting for auto manufacturers, distributors, marketers and suppliers worldwide. Company headquarters are in Tustin, California, with an affiliate office in the Detroit area.