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American Morning

Ford Motor Company to End Association with Firestone

Aired May 22, 2001 - 11:03   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Ford Motor Company is about to make its next move in what's proving to be a rather rancorous divorce from Firestone Tires. The nation's number two auto maker this afternoon is expected to make it official. Ford plans to replace millions of Firestone tires.

CNN's Susan Candiotti is at the Ford dealership in Sunrise, Florida. She's been following the developments -- hi, Susan.

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Kyra.

This particular Ford dealer is keeping an eye out and his ear listening for exactly what Ford has in mind as he waits for word on a tire replacement program being implemented by Ford, perhaps later today. That's the announcement that this dealership is expecting, anyway. He says that he is trying to, he thinks that this will be a good thing for his consumers because those who weren't covered under a previous Firestone recall might be helped by what he believes will be called a consumer satisfaction plan.

Meantime, Firestone continues to blame Ford for a poor car design problem that was at the root of all those deadly Ford Explorer rollover accidents linked to 174 deaths and more than 700 injuries. Firestone blames Ford for poor car design. Ford blames Firestone for a bad tire design. Each one pointed the finger at each other.

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JOHN LAMPE, CEO, BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE: We have been trying to work with Ford since last year to understand the role of the tire and the roll of the vehicle in the serious accidents that we have seen. We have worked very closely, sharing all the information that Ford requested on tires, but we have been unable to get anything on the vehicle.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED CEO: We're disappointed that Firestone has decided not to work together for the safety of our shared customers. That's the only issue that matters.

(END VIDEO CLIP) CANDIOTTI: Ford is expected to, according to sources, announce some time today that it plans to replace up to 13 million additional Firestone tires not covered under the original replacement or recall program that was instituted last summer. Auto industry experts agree that this is a good idea and at least one attorney who has been suing both companies agrees.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

C. TAB TURNER, ATTORNEY: These tires, regardless of which plant they came from, are all bad. And I think Ford just decided they couldn't fade the heat of additional deaths and injuries and they voluntarily stepped up to the plate and ought to be applauded for it and went out and got these tires.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CANDIOTTI: Ford's CEO Jack Nasser is on Capitol Hill at this hour meeting with a couple of both House and Senate committees to discuss what plans he has in mind to replace all of these tires. And we understand that earlier this morning he met with Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta, also to discuss those plans. Nasser plans a news conference later today back at Ford headquarters in Michigan -- back to you, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right, Susan Candiotti, thanks so much. And you can go online to follow the Ford/Firestone split, its impact on Ford's SUV business and what the future might hold for both companies. All that and more at cnn.com, AOL keyword CNN.

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