Grimshaw and Gray’s heirs sued Ford motor company based on theories of negligence and strict liability, alleging that the defendants knew from pre-manufacturing crash tests regarding the design flaws with the fuel system (Grimshaw v. Ford Motor Company, 1981). Legal Analysis In order to remain competitive in the subcompact market, Ford began designing an automobile which ultimately became the Pinto. The Pinto project was a rush project and there were several design flaws (Ford Pinto, 2012, para. 1). The Ford Pinto had a questionable design from the beginning.
Ford Motor Company was knowingly making cheap Pinto cars that exploded upon rear end collisions. More than 180 people burned to death after the gas tank exploded and still Ford did not want to make any modifications to the Pinto. Ford’s current Mission statement reads, “Improve product and services to meet the customer needs, allowing the business to prosper and to provide a reasonable return for stockholders” (Ford’s Statement of Mission, Values and Guiding Principles). They believe that people are the source of strength, improvement, and teamwork are the core human values, and that products are the results of efforts and should be the best to serve customers worldwide. Profits are often the ultimate measure of how efficient we provide customer with the best products for her or his needs.
Consumers loved this sub-compact vehicle. Looking into the remarks of Mark Dowe from Pinto Madness, “he had put together the story printed here from data obtained for him by some very disaffected Ford engineers. The data suggested that the Pinto had been rushed into production without adequate testing; that it had a very vulnerable fuel system that would rupture with any rear-end collision; that even though the vulnerability was discovered before production, Ford had hurried the Pinto to the market anyway” (Treviño & Nelson, 2007, p. 292). If we were involved in the Ford case we would have considered all of the stakeholders and possible risks that could have been avoided. Taking into thought the long run of the company instead of the losses that the company would inquire in the short-term.
Without the trust of the hierarchy of Ford managers the project wouldn’t have been delivered or achieved in the manner it was. Trust in suppliers was a risky decision because it was the ford mentality to “force suppliers to adapt their technology to Fords specifications”. This showed a level of confidence and belief that the suppliers could use their knowledge and skill and produce results for the new diesel engine. It was a complete change in the tradition of product development or the “norm” associated with Ford headquarters. The systematic developed environment was removed to allow Alex and the team to meet the deadline and deliver the new and improved diesel engine within thirty six months.
Ford Pinto Case Did Ford act unethically in the Pinto case? In my opinion the Ford Motor company not only acted unethically, but their actions can easily be considered criminal. The decision to release the Ford Pinto, and not disclosing the safety issues related to this car, resulted in the death and bodily harm of hundreds of people. Ford knew that the car had serious safety issues if involved in a rear end collision. They discovered this in their own secret car crash experiments conducted by their own engineers.
Toyota, Nissan and Honda produced safe, efficient, economical cars In 1975 the U.S. government in an attempt to legislate the North American cars maker into making better cars, passed a law that imposed emissions and fuel-efficiency stands on the auto industry. Chryler, Ford, GM imports into Canada – US, China, Mexico Subprime mortgage – a loan given to someone who has poor credit Someone who doesn’t payback the bank the bank can take the house back (foreclose). Collateral – an asset used the guarantee a loan. Forclosure – Legal process which the owners rights to a property is terminated(usually because they failed to pay back their mortgage) the bank usually takes back the asset. Canadian banks did not invest in subprime mortgages The green revolution New energy sources Canada is not a leader in the renewable erngergy field mainly because it is a major oil,gas and hydroelectric producer.
In the article “Auto Liberation,” Brent Knutson discusses the need for national speed limits on U.S. interstate highways. Specifically, Knutson argues that speed limits are unnecessary based on his experience driving on German autobahns. He claims that American speed limits violate on the freedoms of Americans. Also, he says that nowadays automobiles are able to travel safely at high speeds, and speed is not the cause of accidents but “[it] combined with incompetence, alcohol, or hazardous conditions is dangerous” (Knutson paragraph 9). Moreover, Knutson states that an “intensive driver-education programs, stringent licensing criteria, and public-service announcement campaigns” can make the Americans drive responsibly on the road and he believes the main reason to repeal speed limit is “driving fast is enjoyable.” Surprisingly, the accident rates declined constantly since the interstate speed limits were increased.
According to the article titled 1900-1910 THE CENTURY TURNS: 1908 MODEL T AUTOMOBILE INTRODUCED, “Ford wanted to mass-produce a low-priced car available to most Americans.” He wanted this car to be cheap enough for all Americans to purchase, including the workers at his factory. Most cars in the early 1900’s were only for the rich, Ford proved that the normal person could afford one by making his affordable. The sinking of the Lusitania was a major event in Europe the stirred not only the British government but the American government as well. A German submarine sunk a passenger ship with a torpedo, killing many innocent lives. Woodrow Wilson outlined the tensions, in his notes, which climaxed in “the torpedoing and sinking of the British steamship Lusitania on May 7, 1915”.
They create nearly 1.5 billion tons of CO2 each year”. Bluejay, claims that most ozone pollution is caused by motor vehicles, which account for 72% of nitrogen oxides and 52% of reactive hydrocarbons (principal components of smog)”. Bluejay also said “Car emissions kill 30,000 people each year in the U.S. Riding a bike to work will save money, and help the environment. But driving to work will actually do the opposite.
Ford steadily lost market share to GM and Chrysler, as these and other domestic and foreign competitors began offering fresher automobiles with more innovative features and luxury options. GM had a range of models from relatively cheap to luxury, tapping all price points in the spectrum, while less wealthy people purchased used Model Ts. The competitors also opened up new markets by extending credit for purchases, so consumers could buy these expensive automobiles with monthly payments. Ford initially resisted this approach, insisting such debts would ultimately hurt the consumer and the general economy. Ford eventually relented and started offering the same terms in December 1927,when Ford unveiled the redesigned Model A, and retired the Model T after producing15 million units.