General Motors CEO Mary Barra said this week that she "agonized" over last week's decision to put two key GM engineers on paid leave pending the outcome of an investigation into defective ignition switches linked to 13 deaths.
Barra spoke at a conference, held by the National Automobile Dealers Association and J.D. Power, ahead of the 2014 New York Auto Show.
Barra's comments referred to Gary Altman and Ray DeGiorgio, two engineers involved in the development of the defective switches.
The switches are being replaced in the now controversial recall of over 2.6 million GM vehicles.
"There was a lot of attention, and we agonized over that decision, but we felt it was right for the individuals and right for the company at this time," Barra said of DeGiorgio, according to Reuters.
Altman was the program engineering manager for the recalled cars, and DeGiorgio designed the defective switches.
GM has yet to explain officially why the men were suspended, and the two men have not commented publically.
Barra said that the automaker is creating a new global product integrity organization that "willfocus on product safety and quality," according to Reuters.
It will report to GM's Global Product Development Chief Mark Reuss and Jeff Boyer, who was recently named the chief of vehicle safety last month.
"This new way of developing vehicles will provide the highest levels of safety, quality, and customer service, and ensure that a situation like the ignition-switch recall doesn't happen again," Barra said in New York.
GM's own investigation of the recall should be completed by the middle to the end of May, Barra said.
The internal probe is being headed by Anton Valukas, chief executive of Chicago law firm Jenner & Block, according to Reuters.
"When Mr. Valukas has completed his investigation, we will then take the appropriate actions and then, as I've said, we will be transparent. So that's where we're at," Barra said.
Congress is also investigating the recall.
The NY Auto Show opens to the public on April 18.
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