Despite knowing an ignition switch that cost 13 lives was defective, General Motors decided not to redesign the faulty part even though a fix would have cost less than a dollar per car. The information was revealed at a House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing that featured GM's CEO Mary Barra as the star witness. Reuters: General Motors Co in 2005 decided not to change an ignition switch eventually linked to the deaths of at least 13 people because it would have added about a dollar to the cost of each car, according to an internal GM document provided to U.S. congressional investigators. The U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce released the documents on Tuesday as lawmakers asked CEO Mary Barra why GM failed to recall 2.6 million cars until more than a decade after it first noticed a switch problem that could cut off engines and disable airbags, power steering and power brakes. Colorado Congresswoman Diana DeGette cited a 2005 GM document that she said...(Read Full Post)