APRIL 21, 2001
Ford slugs it out with Bridgestone-Firestone
THE Ford Motor Company is continuing its robust defense of its products in the scandal over accidents involving its Explorer sports utility vehicle and Firestone tires.
According to official figures accident claims relating to the failures now number 170 deaths and 500 injuries.
Bridgestone has reacted by saying that the accidents cannot be assessed with looking at "a complex interaction" which includes the design of the Explorer.
The authorities are yet to decide who is to blame for the accidents but whatever the case it is going to be a while before relations between Ford and Bridgestone-Firestone warm up again.