- Title: VENEZUELA: INVESTIGATION CONTINUES INTO SAFETY OF FIRESTONE TYRES.
- Date: 30th August 2000
- Summary: CARACAS, VENEZUELA (AUGUST 29, 2000) (REUTERS) 1. CU/PAN: FORD EXPLORERS ON STREET WITH FIRESTONE TYRES (2 SHOTS) 0.22 2. MCU: (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PRESIDENT OF FORD VENEZUELA, EMMANUEL CASSINGENA, SAYING: "Part of the demonstration of the faults that we have found in the tyres here are at a level much higher than what was found in the United States. That is why the local production will be explained with our technicians and data and details so that the problem of tyre separation is cleared." 0.47 3. SCU: MEDIA 0.53 4. MCU: (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PRESIDENT OF FORD VENEZUELA, EMMANUEL CASSINGENA, SAYING "To change the tyres, as in the United States , Firestone would call a recall because they were conscience of what was happening. Unfortunately here it was always said that the tyres were compliant to quality standards and we are trying to figure out the truth." 1.24 (AUGUST 28, 2000) (REUTERS) 5. CU: VARIOUS OF DAMAGED TYRES (2 SHOTS) 1.35 6. GV: FORD LOT 1.41 7. GV/MV: VARIOUS OF TYRES BEING CHANGED ON FORD EXPLORERS (2 SHOTS) 1.50 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 14th September 2000 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: CARACAS, VENEZUELA
- Country: Venezuela
- Reuters ID: LVAEOOKJXBABX2XLWEMAUT9JHLTN
- Story Text: Ford Motor Co. F. N> Venezuelan subsidiary, Ford Motor
de Venezuela, said Tuesday (August 29) that the incidence of
faults in Firestone tyres was "much higher" in Venezuela than
in the United States, where 62 deaths have been linked to tyre
failures.
Ford Venezuela officials said a company investigation
found that 14 percent of Firestone's 15-inch tyres, fitted as
standard on Ford's 4x2 Explorer, showed signs of the tread
separating from the tyre.
"Part of the demonstration of the faults that we have
found in the tyres here are at a level very much higher than
what was found in the United States," said the president of
Ford Venezuela, Emmanuel Cassingena, at a news conference.
According to Ford officials in the case of Firestone's
16-inch tyres, fitted on Ford's 4x4 Explorer, the number of
tyres with faults was even higher at around 17 percent.
Venezuela's government consumer protection agency, Indecu,
has said it could recommend criminal action against Ford and
Firestone, a unit of Japan's Bridgestone Corp. 5108. T>, for
misleading consumers about their products with fatal
consequences.
"Unfortunately here it was always said that the tyres were
compliant to quality standards and we are trying to figure out
the truth," said Cassingena.
A court case in the South American nation would be a
further blow for the companies amid a U.S. government
investigation into some 100 accidents and 62 deaths linked to
Firestone tyres.
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