( Autoinsidernews ) - General Motors Vice Chairman and global product chief Bob Lutz told reporters at the Geneva Motor Show that the automaker is targeting a production version of its Chevrolet Volt electric concept car in 2010.
"We have set an internal target of production in 2010. Whether we can make that or not, this is still kind of an unpredictable program for us," Lutz said, according to Reuters. He said the one of the major challenges facing the Chevrolet Volt was development of lithium-ion batteries, and whether they can be developed to run the car safely and affordably. A running Volt prototype is expected to be ready for testing by the end of this year. Lutz also said GM would open much of its development process to the media.
Critics have questioned if GM is simply to capitalizing on the favorable attention of its concept car. However, Lutz said that GM is serious about its efforts, "Competitors who write this off as a PR exercise are going to be brutally surprised."
Lutz was typically candid about the difficulties of the project, "I would say there is still a 10 percent chance this will fail."