GM's CEO grilled in hearing over ignition-switch failures

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U.S. lawmakers trying to establish who is to blame for at least 13 auto-related deaths over the past decade harshly questioned General Motors CEO Mary Barra on Tuesday afternoon over the automaker's slow response to defective ignition switches in its cars.

Despite tougher laws enacted in 2000 and 2010 to encourage automakers and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to aggressively root out safety concerns, it took GM more than 10 years to publicly acknowledge that it had a potentially fatal problem.

Since February, GM has recalled 2.6 million vehicles due to concerns about ignition switches that unexpectedly turn off engines during operation and leave airbags, power steering and power brakes inoperable.

In her opening remarks, GM CEO Mary Barra apologized for the automaker's slow response to defective ignition switches. "Today's GM will do the right thing. That begins with my sincere apologies to everyone w