DETROIT -- General Motors isn't likely to turn a profit on its first-generation Chevrolet Volt.

"Most of our Gen 1 technologies, I don't know that I've ever seen a situation where we make money, particularly when you load all the costs in," GM COO Fritz Henderson said today. "So I don't necessarily think this is going to be the exception."

Henderson spoke after GM revealed the production design for the Volt at its 100th anniversary celebration here. The Volt is a plug-in electric car that GM is developing for sale starting in November 2010.

Despite the high costs of the project, GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz said he hasn't given up on the possibility of first-generation profits.

"We've made very, very conservative assumptions on battery warranty," Lutz said. "And that huge lump of battery warranty in the cost calculation helps diminish the profitability."

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Lutz wouldn't provide specifics but said GM is assuming it will have to replace "quite a few" batteries. If battery reliability and life proves to be better than assumptions, GM can relax "some of that scary warranty provision," giving the Volt a shot at earlier profitability, he said.

GM is testing about 10 vehicles with parts intended for the production Volt, Lutz said. But those vehicles don't have the production Volt shell that GM displayed today. The test cars are being built on GM's global compact front-wheel-drive architecture, which will underpin the Volt and the coming Chevrolet Cruze compact.

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A GM spokesman said 33 of those test Volts will be produced this year.

In 2009, GM will build about 100 Volts with the production body, Lutz said. They'll be used for internal test fleets and media drives.

In related news, GM plans to offer the Volt in China in 2011. China will be one of the first markets to offer the vehicle outside the United States, where it is scheduled to go on sale in 2010.

GM China made the announcement at a press event in Shanghai to celebrate the automaker's 100th anniversary.

The Volt operates as an electric vehicle with a driving range of 40 miles (64 kilometers). If the driver needs to go farther, a small gasoline engine recharges the battery. The onboard battery can be recharged with household electric current, reducing gasoline consumption.

Steve Ribet contributed to this report