Ford Delays Introduction of 2002 Explorers

Ford Motor Co. said it’s delaying the introduction of the 2002 Explorer by several weeks to ensure the company’s signature sport-utility vehicle isn’t hampered by defects or recalls.

The world’s second-biggest auto maker said it began building the sport-utility but won’t ship them to dealers until mid- to late February.

The decision comes after dealers this month put pressure on the auto maker to resolve problems before new or redesigned vehicles arrive in showrooms.

The company’s new Escape small sport-utility has been recalled five times since its introduction in August for problems ranging from steering-wheel nuts to speed-control cables and fuel lines.

“We’re holding them in the yard so that, in the unlikely event that there is an issue that comes in, we don’t want to be chasing around after them,” said Martin Inglis, vice president of Ford North America. “We want these vehicles to be absolutely immaculate when they leave our hands to go to the dealer.”

Separately, Ford said it named Marvin Adams as chief information officer effective Dec. 5, reporting to Ford Chief Executive Jacques Nasser.

Adams, 43, had been chief information officer at Bank One, Ford said. He replaces Jim Yost, who was appointed to the new position of vice president of corporate strategy.

Adams is responsible for overseeing all information systems at the auto maker, including sales and marketing systems, phone services, e-mail and payroll systems.

Many auto makers have been moving toward purchasing parts and components online and selling cars through the Internet.

Adams began his career at IBM Corp., where he worked in systems engineering and marketing for 10 years. In 1991, he left for Xerox Corp., where he was vice president of worldwide engineering systems.

Ford shares closed unchanged at $23.63 on the New York Stock Exchange.