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Print General Motors Co. has swept the top three spots in the 2012 J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Study for large pickup trucks, GM officials announced Wednesday. The top two vehicle models are assembled in Allen County.
This is GM’s best-ever showing in the annual study.
The GMC Sierra light duty ranked first, the Chevrolet Silverado heavy duty finished second, and the Chevy Avalanche was third. Each of GM’s four U.S. brands earned a segment award in the quality study.
J.D. Power is a global marketing information services company that provides customer satisfaction research, market research, automotive forecasting, social media research and performance improvement programs for several industries.
GM’s Allen County truck assembly plant employs about 3,600 working three shifts.
A survey of chief executives shows fewer large U.S. companies plan to hire or boost spending in the next six months, reflecting a weaker U.S. economy.
The Business Roundtable says 36 percent of its CEO members plan to add workers over the next six months. That’s down from 42 percent when the survey was last taken three months ago.
The group’s chairman blamed uncertainty over potential U.S. tax increases and spending cuts coupled with Europe’s financial crisis.
Only 43 percent say they plan to step up spending on machinery, computers and other large goods, down from 48 percent. Most CEOs still expect sales to increase in the next six months.
Overall, the CEO Outlook survey index fell to 89.1 in the second quarter, down from 96.9 in the first three months of the year. Any reading above 50 indicates growth.
Struggling BlackBerry maker Research In Motion said Wednesday it has started cutting jobs as part of a restructuring plan aimed at saving about $1 billion this year.
RIM said in May that there would be “significant layoffs” this year. On Wednesday, the Waterloo, Ontario, company said it has “reduced some positions as part of its program and may continue to do so as the company methodically works through a review of the business.”
RIM declined to provide numbers but will offer an update when it reports quarterly financial results June 28. RIM had about 16,500 employees in early May. The company cut 2,000 jobs last July. Jefferies analyst Peter Misek said he expects RIM to cut about 6,000 employees.
Majors Medical Supply is closing its doors for good at the end of this month. The business, which employs four, opened in February 1996.
Larry Bobay, co-owner, is retiring from the business at 14601 Lima Road in the Huntertown Mall. He also cited increased competition and upcoming changes in Medicare and private insurance reimbursement for the decision.
The business sells and rents hospital beds, wheelchairs, walkers and other durable medical equipment directly to patients and their families. Bobay, 65, has advised customers who regularly order supplies that they’ll need to find another medical supplies provider.
Bobay owns the business with his wife, Patricia.
