No More Firestones For Ford In Venezuela

Ford’s Venezuelan subsidiary has removed Firestone from its list of original equipment tyre suppliers. Firestone tyres are fitted as oe on only two Ford vehicles; the Lazer family vehicle and the 350 truck. There has been a row simmering between the companies for some time over the alleged failures of Firestone tyres fitted to Ford Explorers.

In Venezuela, Ford stopped fitting Firestone tyres to explorers over a year ago. At least 46 people have died in Explorer accidents in Venezuela, with Ford blaming the tyres and Bridgestone/Firestone suggesting that there might be a flaw in the Explorer’s suspension system. Ford Venezuela is reported as having offered compensation to the victims, but the company has made it clear that this is not an admission of liability and that it still maintains that the tyres are to blame.

Bridgestone/Firestone did not attend a meeting with victims, arranged by the Venezuelan Government, arguing that such a meeting could be interpreted as admission of guilt, which the company denies. Bridgestone/Firestone says that the loss of oe sales to Ford represents only a two per cent loss of sales in Venezuela. Ford is keen to avoid blame as it will shortly be introducing its new Explorer 2001 into Venezuela, although Government authorities have said that they want a thorough safety examination of the vehicle.