Disaster From The Start

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FORD PINTO: FLAWED FROM PLANNING Chris Smith Park University FORD PINTO: FLAWED FROM THE PLANNING Review of the Case With subcompact car industry being taken by the German Volkswagen Beetle, Ford Motor Company needed to be in the competition no matter what the cost. Ford engineers quickly designed a subcompact that would keep Ford in the race. The design, known as the Pinto, was destined to be a disaster from the start. With the quick let’s get this car on the road attitude, safety was definitely not top priority. Fords top executives made the decision to expedite the entire planning stages, cutting the time almost in half from previous design times. The Ford Pinto went from idea to production in just 25 weeks vice the normal 43.1 Facts and Assumptions Facts Lee Iacocca made the statement that "The Pinto was not to weigh an ounce over 2,000 pounds and not cost a cent over $2,000." He was the President of Ford Motor Company. The Pinto became known as “Lee’s Car” according the article written in the Mother Jones article.2 Lee would make the statement “Safety doesn’t sell”2 Assumptions Mr. Iacocca’s “I don’t care attitude about safety” attitude was one of the falls of the Ford Pinto. It was his way or the highway. He was not open to suggestions for improvements to the Pinto. He wanted to be part of the subcompact car industry, no matter what the cost. It is safe to say that with just a slight modification the Ford Pinto could have been a top notch car of its time. Philosophical Questions What would it have taken to make the Ford Pinto one of the best subcompact cars of the 1970s? Is there any point where production outweighs the value of life? What could have improved the outcome for Ford Motor Company in regards to the production of its first subcompact car? Should a company be punished for lack

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