General Motors has become the first big automaker to support legislation barring rental-car companies from renting or selling vehicles subject to a recall.
GM’s support was announced Wednesday by bill author Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y. GM endorsed the bill after language was inserted clarifying that automakers wouldn’t face liability when they repaired rental cars, Schumer said in a news release.
GM sent Schumer a letter June 26 expressing its support. Schumer’s announcement came a day before GM CEO Mary Barra and the company’s general counsel appear before a Senate subcommittee investigating GM’s decade-delayed recall of millions of small cars for flawed ignition switches. The problem has been blamed for at least 13 deaths.
Under the legislation, defects in cars under recall would have to be repaired before being rented.