NASHVILLE, Tenn. (May 21, 2001)–“We believe they are attempting to divert attention and scrutiny away from their vehicles by casting aspersions on Firestone,” said John T. Lampe, chairman, CEO and president of Bridgestone/Firestone Inc., at a press conference explaining why his company was severing its nearly 100-year-old business relationship with Ford Motor Co.
Ford had told various news outlets that it had found safety problems with Firestone tires not included in last August's recall and would press for an expanded recall.
Mr. Lampe said Ford officials ignored Firestone data which showed “that our tires are safe, that our tires perform well,” he said. The Ford accounts which BFS is abandoning represent less than 5 percent (estimated at $300-million to $350 million) of the Nashville-based tire maker's total revenues, Mr. Lampe said during a brief question-and-answer period.