US carmaker General Motors (GM) is planning to manufacture about 500,000 hybrid or electric vehicles (EV) per year by 2017 that feature some form of electrification, including hybrid drive system.
The carmaker's plug-in electrics, pure EVs and hybrids featuring its eAssist technology will assist in meeting its goal.
General Motors Global Product Development senior vice president Mary Barra said the plug-in offers a unique opportunity to change the way people commute.
"Plug-based solutions will play a significant role in our technology portfolio going forward," Barra said.
GM is also involved in development of the next-generation propulsion technology that powers its plug-in Chevrolet Volt extended-range EV and will also power the Cadillac ELR to enhance the value and efficiency of the system.
"We'll meet requirements set by certain regulatory agencies, but we're not building the Spark EV to check a regulatory box," Barra said.
The carmaker is also on target to sell 50,000 vehicles with electrification technologies that include the Volt and eAssist light electrification technology on vehicles including the Buick LaCrosse, Regal and Chevrolet Malibu.
Scheduled to be unveiled in 2013, the new 2014 Chevrolet Impala will also feature an eAssist model.
"Our commitment to eAssist is unwavering. In fact, our future portfolio calls for eAssist to be on hundreds of thousands of GM vehicles annually by 2017," added Barra.
