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Firestone Defence Becomes More Aggressive

During a highly emotional press conference in Tokyo, Bridgestone’s boss Kaizaki again asked Ford to shoulder more of the blame. Kaizaki again pointed out that the recall in the USA is precautionary and, to date, no technical failure has been found. In Saudi Arabia, for example, the tyres have not caused – according to a joint investigation by Firestone and Ford – the problems. Firestone has never tried to cover up the facts, said Kaizaki (67). He refused to resign and said that he would take the responsibility for re-establishing the Firestone brand. A management shake up in Nashville seems likely, as soon as the recall is over. John Lampe, Executive Vice President for Bridgestone/Firestone USA, said during the hearing of the Senate Commerce Committee that Ford should share the blame. Official data on 16,000 Explorer rollovers, related to 600 deaths, show that in only a very few cases were there problems related to tyres. Bridgestone management is annoyed that, during Nasser’s call to Sam Gibara at the end of August, the Goodyear chief said that he had no knowledge of Goodyear problems in connection with the Explorer. Goodyear supplied two million tyres for the Explorer and there have been numerous proofs and photographs showing that Explorer accidents and rollovers had occurred with Goodyear tyres.

7th December 2000/by Tyrepress Editors

Senate Approves New Powers to NHTSA

The US Senate, last night approved legislation prompted by the Bridgestone Firestone tyre recall. The new measures strengthen reporting requirements for automotive related manufacturers. The enforcement powers given to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration allow them to impose civil and criminal penalties for misleading the government about auto defects which result in death and injury. The maximum civil penalty for violations has been raised from $925,000 to $15M, and prison terms of up to 15 years have been prescribed, alongside fines of up to $100,000 for withholding information in cases where death occurs. The legislation instruct NHTSA to conduct tests into SUV safety and issue rules requiring the fitting of safety devices to warn drivers of underinflated tyres.

7th December 2000/by Tyrepress Editors

New OTR Tyres From Bridgestone To Be Shown At Intermat

Bridgestone/Firestone is displaying its new generation of off-the-road tyres at Intermat 2000, one of a series of exhibitions for the construction and civil engineering industries, to be held in Paris from 16-21 May. Bridgestone claims a global OTR tyre market share in excess of 40% and in the past three years, has invested US$ 100 million in this product sector.

7th December 2000/by Tyrepress Editors

Free Inspection Of 4×4 Tyres In Europe Offered By Bridgestone

Bridgestone/Firestone is offering European motorists a free inspection of 4×4 tyres made in the USA. This covers 24 types of tyres, around 13,000 of which have been imported into Europe over the past decade. The company estimates that only half this number are still on the road and it will replace them free if the customer is still worried after inspection. Nine sizes are involved.

7th December 2000/by Tyrepress Editors

Ford “Has No Plans To Drop Firestone”

Jason Vines, Ford Vice President, has said that the company has no plans to drop Firestone as a tyre supplier, although the relationship will be reviewed “on a day-to-day basis”. Ford’s new Explorer 2002 SUV (on the market next year) will be fitted with Firestone tyres, but tyres from another manufacturer, thought to be Michelin, will also be offered.

7th December 2000/by Tyrepress Editors

Salt Lake City Case For Goodyear

A case has been brought against Goodyear and M&T Inc, the owner of a local Big O Tire store. The widows of three men killed in a rollover claim that the Kelly Springfield Metric Radial suffered a tread separation, resulting in the deaths of their husbands. It is not clear whether the action has been pending, or whether this case has been brought subsequent to the Bridgestone/Firestone recall.

7th December 2000/by Tyrepress Editors

First Stop in Germany

First Stop is a partnership program of Bridgestone/Firestone Europe in cooperation with independent tyre dealers. The chain started five years ago in Scandinavia and Great Britain and now numbers about 1.100 Outlets in sixteen European countries. All the First Stop dealers have the same corporate identity with a black, grey and red livery. In Germany, the First Stop concept started one and a half years ago with perhaps 30 Outlets, based on the experiences gained in the other European countries and successful marketing measures at Germany’s Bridgestone/Firestone own chain A3. Nowadays First Stop has 75 service stations all over Germany and plans for the end of 2000 to reach hundred – representing between 80 and 90 dealers. Marketing and advertisement support is part of the First Stop concept as well as training in technical, business administration and sales aspects. The efforts of the Bad Homburg headquarters also include car servicing (shock absorbers, brakes, exhausts and oil) which is not very strong at many German tyre stations. Also the cooperation guarantees benefits in the purchase of workshop equipment and other parts such as wheels. The dealers can also participate in a three phase tyre offer for cars (for trucks Bridgestone/Firestone developed the Truck Point system): the premium brand Bridgestone, the well known brand Firestone in medium segments, and FST 2000 tyres. FST 2000 is a car summer tyre in nearly 30 sizes from 135/80 R13T up to 195/50 R15V, produced only in Europe and exclusively distributed through its First Stop partners who need an offer for the end user who is more price-conscious. And of course the world’s leading rubber company guarantees best quality. Now Bridgestone/Firestone has added First Stop Winter to complete the program for the dealers. Details can be found in issue 10/2000 of NEUE REIFENZEITUNG.

7th December 2000/by Tyrepress Editors

New CEO For Bridgestone/Firestone Inc.

John T. Lampe, Executive Vice President of Bridgestone/Firestone Inc., has been made Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of the American company. He joined Bridgestone/Firestone in 1973 and has a wealth of international experience with the company. Lampe succeeds Masatoshi Ono (63), who has been with Bridgestone for 41 years, having spent the last ten years in the US and the last seven as CEO. He immediately announced a three-point action plan with the aim of accelerating the tyre recall, assembling a new management team and creating new methods of collecting and examining performance data. His appointment follows personal intervention in the crisis by Yoichiro Kaizaki, Chief Executive Officer of the parent company Bridgestone Corporation. Fuller details in the November issue of TYRES & ACCESSORIES.

7th December 2000/by Tyrepress Editors

US Unions Target Bridgestone

As a matter of practice, US unions choose one tyre maker as the basis for labour negotiations, targeting standard contracts for the coming year to apply to the other tyre companies also. This year they have decided to negotiate with Bridgestone/Firestone.

7th December 2000/by Tyrepress Editors

No Improvements In Sight For Goodyear Group

Goodyear, together with Michelin, has benefited from the Firestone crisis, increasing turnover but not able to improve profits. Last year the company paid a dividend per share of US$ 1.41; in 1998 the figure was $4.43 per share. It is expected that this year’s dividend will be similar to last year’s. Perhaps the turnaround might happen next year.

7th December 2000/by Tyrepress Editors

Tyre Recall Extended To Venezuela

Bridgestone/Firestone has announced that it is to recall 62,000 tyres sold in the Venezuelan market at an estimated cost of US$ 6.4 m. The tyres have been linked with 60 deaths in the country. The consumer protection agency is recommending investigation into charges of possible criminal negligence against Ford and Bridgestone/Firestone, plus a number of civil law suits are planned.

7th December 2000/by Tyrepress Editors

Expert “Was Aware Of Firestone Problems In 1999”

A tyre expert hired by Bridgestone/Firestone has identified cracks in the belt skim – the rubber compound used to bond steel belts – as the cause of problems with some Firestone tyres. However, another tyre consultant, Rex Grogan, said that he told the company back in April 1999 that he had found the same problem. He blamed the use of inexperienced personnel working at the Decatur plant during a labour dispute.

7th December 2000/by Tyrepress Editors

Differences Between Ford and Firestone Continue

With court appearances imminent lawyers for Ford and Firestone are still discussing how to consiolidate some 100 cases being brought against them in federal courts. It is still hoped to draw all claims before a single judge for a pre-trial preparation. However, continuing differences between Ford and Firestone may lead to a split defence. Plaintiffs’ lawyers are said to be jubilant at the lack of united front on the recall.

7th December 2000/by Tyrepress Editors

Not only Firestone: Now Huge Recall At Ford

Car manufacturer Ford has – as American news agencies have reported – recalled 876,000 cars of the types Explorer and Mercury Mountaineers because of faulty chassis parts. 262 incidents, mainly occurring in Canada, have been reported to date. The owners of these models will be informed by mail. The Ford press department in Cologne does not regard Germany as being involved in this recall.

7th December 2000/by Tyrepress Editors

Juan Carlos Visits BS/FS Plant In Burgos

King Juan Carlos recently visited Bridgestone/Firestone plant in Burgos, one of the group’s three tyre plants in Spain. The reason for the visit was the 100th birthday of Firestone this year. In 1990 Burgos was the group’s first European tyre factory to start producing Bridgestone-branded tyres, at that time Firestone’s new parent company.

7th December 2000/by Tyrepress Editors