General Motors Co.'s head of global product development says the issues with the Chevrolet Volt are no different than those encountered during the introduction of other new automotive technologies, but she added that the company will make changes to its battery design if they are deemed necessary.
"I have engineers working shoulder-to-shoulder with the NHTSA engineers right now," said Mary Barra, vice president of global product development for GM. "We are looking to say, 'Are there some design changes that we can make — something more robust in this location or that location or this component?'"
The Chevy Volt is GM's first extended-range electric vehicle. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating the safety of the Volt's lithium-ion battery pack; two have caught fire following crash tests.
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