Of course they do. The brand is the sum of all the design and engineering decisions and marketing over time. I absolutely bought a Lexus because I perceived it

Of course they do. The brand is the sum of all the design and engineering decisions and marketing over time. I absolutely bought a Lexus because I perceived it as high quality - reliable, assembled properly, good finishes. Same for my BMW, though it’s almost certainly less reliable. My Honda truck, I expect reliable utility, not luxury.