Japanese cars sweep Germany consumer satisfaction rankings.

Japan Transportation Scan, October, 2002

NEW YORK, Oct. 22 Kyodo

Japanese cars have swept top rankings in a customer satisfaction survey conducted in Germany, with Toyota Motor Corp. capturing six out of seven car segments, the U.S. automobile research firm J.D. Power and Associates said Tuesday.

J.D. Power said Nissan Motor Co. completed the Japanese sweep in its first owner satisfaction study on the German auto market, taking first place in the executive/luxury car segment.

The result was sweet surprise even to Japanese auto executives as Germany is home to most luxury car brands in the world.

''The study...shows that it is not necessary to buy an expensive car to have a satisfying ownership experience,'' Dave Sargent, director of European operations at J.D. Power,...