Survey: EV maker ties with Toyota for 3rd behind BMW and Mercedes
Bradford Wernle
Automotive News
November 9, 2015 - 12:01 am ET
DETROIT -- Tesla has cracked the ranks of top-performing automakers in a survey of suppliers that measures carmakers' willingness to encourage innovation and adopt new technology.
Tesla, appearing for the first time in the biennial North American Suppliers' Choice Study by Deloitte and Automotive News, ranked third, tied with Toyota and behind No. 1 BMW and No. 2 Mercedes-Benz. This year's survey ranks 15 manufacturers of vehicles in North America.
The survey showed that suppliers value their ties with automakers that encourage innovation, are willing to build relationships based on trust and are easy to work with. More than half the 170 suppliers that responded said they would withhold their most innovative products from automakers that do not participate in collaborative relationships.
Suppliers gave Tesla high scores in openness, ease of working and trust. "Tesla is extremely aggressive, but takes a position that they are the innovator and will drive technology to the supply base," wrote one commenter, who added: "Could improve with a more collaborative approach."
http://www.autonews.com/article/201...ppliers-give-tesla-high-praise-for-innovation
I felt this is strictly in the "business news" rather than general news so decided to post it here. Full article in link.