GM Accused of ‘Criminal Deception’ on Fatal Switch Defect
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General Motors Co. Chief Executive Officer Mary Barra fielded pointed questions and accusations from U.S. senators, with one saying GM had a “culture of coverup” and another predicting it may face criminal liability.
Barra said it was “completely unacceptable” that the design of a defective small-car ignition switch now linked to at least 13 deaths was changed without a corresponding change in part number, which would mask a fix. She repeated her assertion to a U.S. House committee yesterday that GM focused on costs in the past and now makes the customer “our compass.”