MORE GOOD NEWS FOR GM!

From a Tuesday editorial in the Detroit News: General Motors' insistence that its recovery will come because of its products got a much-needed boost Monday when the company's brands won more top honors than any other automaker in a national survey.

Even more promising about the recognition is that the survey gauged the emotions of new car and truck owners about their buying experience and the product itself as well as its performance. A positive emotional experience, the survey said, builds brand loyalty. The news couldn't come at a better time for GM, which had a first-quarter loss of $1.1 billion and is fighting to remain the world's No. 1 automaker.

Six GM brands won top awards in the survey, followed by Nissan Motor Co., with five. Ford Motor Co. was recognized in three categories (Focus, Five Hundred and Mustang) and DaimlerChrysler won one award for the PT Cruiser.

Perhaps the best news for GM is the recognition of the Pontiac G6 as the outright winner in the midsize car category. It was the only new GM brand to win.

Buyers also praised the Chevrolet Corvette as the best small specialty car priced more than $25,000; the Buick Rainier as the best midsized sport utility vehicle; the Hummer H2 and Cadillac Escalade tied with Range Rover as the best luxury SUVs; and the GMC Sierra 2500/3500 won as best heavy duty pickup.

More than 40,000 people who bought 2005 model cars and trucks in October and November were surveyed by Strategic Vision Inc., a San Diego market research firm, for its 2005 Total Quality Index report. This is the 10th year of the survey.

GM should ride this news for what it's worth: It's confirmation that consumers still believe in the company and some of its products and that the best way to build loyalty is to produce products that don't rest on their laurels.