Nissan Nabs Consumer Reports Auto Testing Chief

David Champion, who has headed vehicle testing for Consumer Reports for 15 years, will join Nissan Motor Co. on Sept. 10 in the newly created job of executive adviser for competitive assessment and quality.

Champion will be based at Nissan's testing center in Arizona and report to Steve Monk, the company's North American director of vehicle evaluation and testing.

Nissan says it expects Champion to help it develop better testing methods and improve its customer satisfaction ratings. He tells Automotive News that he also will help Nissan better understand what consumers look for in cars.

Champion began his automotive career at Land Rover, where he oversaw the creation of the brand's testing center in North America. He was a quality assurance engineer for Nissan from 1994 until CR hired him in 1997. Champion has been the public face of the influential magazine's vehicle comparisons and a commentator on its coveted Top Picks and Recommended lists.

CR has promoted two engineers to replace Champion. Jake Fisher will head vehicle testing. Jennifer Stockburger will oversee testing of tires and child car seats and manage the magazine's test track in Connecticut.