Ford Explorer - Ethical Study

Overview

Ford Company was founded in June 16 1903, by the American industrialist Mr. Henry Ford, who was one of the prominent figures in the 20th century.

Henry Ford has changed the way of life for many people with his vision to make owning a car both practical and affordable. The moving assembly line and mass production techniques that he developed set the standard for worldwide industrial practice, in the first half of the 20th Century. (Ford Motor Company Heritage, 2010)

His intense commitment was to lower the costs, but at the same time manufacture good and reliable products.

One of the best rated cars manufactured at that time, the Ford Explorer was first sold in March 1990 and was designed as a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV).

The Explorer was designed to travel off-road, built high off the ground to clear rocks and other obstructions underneath. It had become the most popular car in America, and the best selling SUV in the world, as it was widely regarded as a spacious, safe and reliable vehicle for families. It fulfilled consumer’s desire for ruggedness combined with comfort. (Hartley, R., 2005)

Later on in 1990, Ford internal documents showed that company engineers suggested making changes to the design of the Explorer to improve the stability of the car. The Twin-I-Beam suspension which was used, meant to raise the vehicle’s centre of gravity, but did not allow the car to achieve sufficient stability and proved to be faulty in crash tests. However, Ford ignored these suggestions and instead, on grounds of cost, decided to lower the tyre pressure to 26 psi (pounds per square inch), which was meant to lower the car’s centre of gravity. This decision was made despite the fact that the sidewall of the tyre was marked with 35 psi, the tyre manufacturer’s recommendation. (Hartley, R., 2005)

This low level of inflation also meant that there was more flex in the tyres as well as greater heat build up. The Uniform Tyre Quality Grade (UTQG) provides...