BMW tops supplier survey

By Jesse Snyder, Automotive News

BARCELONA, Spain -- European auto suppliers say they want to do more business with Toyota Motor Corp. and BMW AG and less with Ford Motor Co., General Motors and Fiat S.p.A.

Another 10 brands received positive but less-enthusiastic ratings than BMW and Toyota from 84 Tier 1 suppliers that responded to a survey jointly sponsored by Automotive News Europe, a sister publication to Automotive News, and AutoBusiness Ltd., a British consultancy.

The survey was conducted in April and May, and the results were presented Friday, May 6, at the Automotive News Europe Congress here.

With few exceptions, Ford, GM and Fiat were the lowest ranked of 15 brands when suppliers were asked to rate the automakers' willingness on issues such as rewarding suppliers for cost-saving ideas and protecting suppliers' proprietary technology.

From Automotive News