PR tactics to upstage the japanese car manufacturers

Now things are getting more and more suspect with regards to the The American Customer Satisfaction Index released by the University of Michigan,japanese car manufacturers seem to be at the recieving end while nothing really major has happened to change the relationship between the consumers and the japanese car manufacturers .How come only they are at the recieving end.
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Here's what they say:

Index analysts said the uptick in motorists' satisfaction comes from greater satisfaction in domestic and European vehicle lines, offsetting declines in Asian manufacturers.

The satisfaction rating for Honda Motor Co. Ltd. vehicles, however, slipped to 84 after receiving 86 ratings in 2005 and 2006.

The only companies that experienced greater one-year downward shifts in satisfaction were Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. ,which went from 82 to 80, and Toyota Motor Corp. which dipped to 87 to 84.

Nissan's rating was the lowest of the 12 measured companies and divisions.

The American Customer Satisfaction Index is based out of the National Quality Research Center at the University of Michigan. The index conducts customer interviews that measure expectations and perceived quality and value.

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