TTAC News Round-up: Infamous GM Engineer Speaks, You Only Get One With Dinner, and Hydrogen's Hedged Bet

The man in the middle of GM’s faulty ignition switch has finally spoken, and the word “mistake” came up at least twice.

That, does anyone have the number for Google, GM and Honda may join forces, and take a cab … after the break!

Read more
Mary Barra Among Those To Depose Over GM Ignition Recall

General Motors CEO Mary Barra will be among those called to depose over the automaker’s February 2014 ignition switch recall by lawyers.

Read more
US Judicial Panel Consolidates Lawsuits, Sends Them To NY

Reuters reports the lawsuits filed against General Motors over its decade-plus handling of the ignition switched linked to 13 fatalities and 54 accidents will all be reviewed by U.S. District Judge Jesse Furman in the Southern District of New York, as ruled Monday by the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation. The panel determined New York to be the appropriate venue for the hearings based upon the court’s handling of the 2009 bankruptcy that allowed the automaker to shed its former self, liabilities and all. The lawsuits to be heard by the bankruptcy judge involve economic damages, suits GM wants the judge to determine if they are blocked by the liability protections established upon its exit from bankruptcy.

Read more
Barra: "Nobody Took Responsibility" For Defective Ignition Switch

Automotive News reports General Motors CEO Mary Barra delivered a 15-minute blistering speech before those in attendance and online regarding the Valukas report, which detailed the how and why a defective ignition switch first brought to life in 2001 led to the February 2014 recall of 2.6 million vehicles so equipped and the firestorm that followed. In her words, “nobody took responsibility” for the problems, that “there was no demonstrated sense of urgency” during the time period to fix the problems that still haunt the automaker. Barra added that she would never put the recall crisis behind GM, to “keep this painful experience” permanently upon the head of the corporation so as nothing like this would ever occur once more. At the end, she proclaimed her belief in GM and its employees in being able to face “the truth” about itself, and that the General overall was better than its previous actions.

Read more
GM Issues ECM Recall, Bids Farewell To Federico

Autoblog reports another recall has been issued by General Motors, this time concerning 51,640 2014 Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Acadia crossovers screwed together between March 26 and August 15 of last year. The affected vehicles possess an engine control module whose software may provide an inaccurate fuel gauge reading, forcing the driver to pull to the side of the road should the tank prove empty instead of a quarter to empty. Owners have been asked to bring their affected crossover for a reflashing of the ECM to correct the issue.

Read more
Dealers Still Waiting For Replacements, DeGiorgio Linked To Original Design And Upgrade

Automotive News reports dealers are still waiting for the ignition switches meant to replace the out-of-spec switch at the center of the ongoing recall crisis at General Motors. The switch was to have arrived at dealerships beginning this week, yet most dealers are in a “holding pattern” on deliveries. Once the parts do arrive, service bays will begin work on affected customer vehicles immediately before turning toward the used lot, where vehicles under the recall are currently parked until the customer vehicles are fixed.

Read more
  • Ige65815723 Oh, lookie, another EV fanatic disconnected from reality.The "reality" being the low fruit has been picked by Tesla. The market has little desire for EVs at 2X/3x the price of ICE and zero desire for EV trucks. To quote Fords CEO, sub $20k Chinese EVs are an "extinction level event" for the Big3.
  • 28-Cars-Later "“It’s a very serious offense,” Friedlander said. “It’s not a parking ticket, let’s put it that way.""Well if it doesn't involve jail time, what's the difference?
  • Syke Seriously looking at one for next spring (and I've pointedly NEVER owned a full-sized pickup). Pity I'll be trading in a Bolt.
  • Cprescott The truck was a deal when first launched. It is not a deal now and appears to be only good to be an urban cowboymobile instead of a serious truck based on range issues.
  • Kwik_Shift_Pro4X It is a money losing venture. Like a country that is $35 trillion in debt and still able to give away tens of billions of dollars when asked.