Bridgestone, Ford Chiefs Agree to Testify

The heads of Ford Motor Co. and Bridgestone/Firestone Inc. agreed to testify at a congressional hearing next week, but the format may have to be changed so the feuding executives will not have to appear together.

The House Commerce Committee scheduled hearings for Tuesday to examine the safety of Firestone tires and the Ford Explorer. Ford Chief Executive Jacques Nasser and his counterpart at Bridgestone/Firestone, John Lampe, were to appear together, but Ford staff objected to the plan and requested that Nasser not have to testify with Lampe. Lampe said he would welcome the chance to sit with Nasser. “I’d say ‘Good afternoon,’ shake his hand and get on with the hearing,” Lampe said in an interview with The Times.

“I hope we’re on the same panel and at the same table. I’d be professional, and I hope he’d be professional too.” The two companies have been blaming each other for hundreds of rollover accidents that occurred when Firestone tires failed on the Ford Explorer.

Last month, Lampe cut off Bridgestone/Firestone’s 95-year partnership with the auto maker as Nasser prepared to announce Ford would replace 13 million Firestone tires on its vehicles because of safety concerns.

Separately, Ford cut its third-quarter North American production plan by 10% to 930,000 vehicles from 1.04 million a year ago, amid declining sales.