GM recalls 218,000 more cars over fire safety fears

GM has announced it will recall another 218,000 cars in the US over fire safety fears.

The move comes a day after a global recall of 2.6 million GM cars over possible faulty seat belts, transmissions, air bags, and fire issues.

The latest recall covers its smaller Chevrolet Aveo cars from 2004 to 2008.

The total number of cars GM has recalled globally this year is more than 15 million.

No fatalities have been associated with this latest recall.

The company has been under intense pressure recently from regulators to improve its safety standards.

Last week the company was fined $35 million for failing to address different defects which have been linked to 13 deaths.

That was the maximum allowed by US law and it was the single highest civil penalty ever levied as a result of a recall investigation.

GM has already put aside $1.3 billion in the first three months of the year to cover the costs of the recalls and it now estimates it will cost the firm around $400 million in the April to May period.

The carmaker expects an internal investigation about the issue to conclude within the next two weeks.