by German cars have been famous for their quality and durability for decades. However, in recent years the situation has sharply deteriorated, and in various reliability rankings, German brands generally do not occupy the top spots. DW journalists decided to investigate why this happened.
German Cars — From Symbols of Reliability to Outsiders
Germany is considered the birthplace of the automobile — it was there that Carl Benz built the world’s first self-propelled carriage. In the 70s-90s, German cars gained an image of being indestructible. Models like the Mercedes E-Class W124 and S-Class W140 became symbols of reliability and frequently covered more than a million kilometers without serious malfunctions.
However, the quality of German cars then began to gradually decline, in some places very sharply. For example, instances of explosions of gas cylinders were reported in the Volkswagen Touran with factory-installed LPG. In the JD Power quality rankings for 2022, BMW ranked 9th, Mercedes-Benz 19th, Porsche 24th, Volkswagen 29th, and Audi 30th. American, Japanese, and Korean brands were the leaders.
Engineers Lost to Marketers
JD Power Vice President Jack Dolan believes that the drop in reliability is due to the use of modern technologies — innovations are always implemented with difficulty. Moreover, new technologies have made German cars more expensive, and in order to maintain prices and preserve profits, it was necessary to cut development costs and use cheaper components and less quality materials.
Additionally, modern mass models are not designed for long-term use. Berlin retro car dealer Burkhard Steins emphasizes that cars now have a lifespan of no more than 15-20 years. Previously, engineers built in much greater strength simply because cars were not changed as often as nowadays. Vintage cars with proper care can be virtually eternal.
According to former BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen, half a century ago, engineers had the final say, and marketers had significantly less influence. That is why German cars were pleasing with their longevity. However, by the mid-90s, engineers lost to marketers.
It was at this time, in pursuit of reducing costs, that car engineering expenses were seriously cut. Moreover, engineers had their focus shifted: Volkswagen board member Thomas Ulbrich explained that more attention is now paid to other aspects — efficiency and digital technologies.
In addition, in recent years, a new challenge has emerged — electrification. The rapid implementation of new power units and untested software to them also threatens reliability issues. In this situation, German car manufacturers are on equal footing with other companies, no longer having an advantage — everyone has to effectively start from scratch.
Top Gir via Focus
