Traverse City -- General Motors Co. will introduce a plug-in hybrid Buick crossover vehicle in 2011, the company said today.

Tom Stephens, GM vice chairman of product development, made the announcement on the yet-to-be-named Buick today during the Center for Automotive Research's Management Briefing Seminars.

The vehicle will be delivered to the Energy Department for fleet testing in early 2011 and will go on sale to retail customers later in 2011.

The yet-to-be-named Buick crossover will launch in late 2010 with a direct-injected gasoline engine, followed in 2011 by the plug-in hybrid model.

GM said in January 2008 that its first GM plug-in hybrid was to be a Saturn Vue to go on sale as early as 2010, but GM is in the process of selling the brand.

"Buick will get our first plug-in hybrid, which will put the brand front and center, in the advanced technology game."

Stephens sought to emphasize the company's future since its emergence from bankruptcy last month. "Since the last time this event was held, the automotive industry has seen quite a bit of turmoil, all around the world. And I'd argue that, with the possible exception of our friends at Chrysler, nobody has known more turmoil, than General Motors," he said.

Stephens said GM president and CEO Fritz Henderson is moving to change the culture. GM's culture has been criticized by the White House auto task force.

"Fritz is leading a culture change, like GM has never seen before -- it's already happening," he said. "I've been here for 40 years, and I've never seen anything like this. It's remarkable, and yet, it's not at all surprising. We're moving faster than ever. We've slashed our brands in half, in a matter of months."

Stephens said some parts of GM don't need an overhaul.

"I'm proud to lead GM's global product development organization, because even our harshest critics would tell you that's one element of GM that 'ain't broke, and don't need fixing,'" he said. "And that's largely because, in my humble opinion, the vehicles we have now, comprise the best line-up, top-to-bottom, GM has had in decades, if not ever."

Stephens also announced that LG Chem -- the supplier of GM's battery cells for the Volt -- has been selected, to supply the lithium ion cells, for the new Buick plug-in hybrid. Compact Power will supply the battery pack.

GM will announce Aug. 13 that it is building a $43 million lithium-ion battery plant in a 370-acre industrial park alongside Interstate 75 in Brownstown Township. The plant is expected to create almost 600 jobs.

The Buick crossover will be powered by an Ecotec 2.4L direct-injected four-cylinder engine with an optional 3.0L direct-injected V-6, and is expected to deliver 30 miles per gallon or more on the highway.

"This new entry for Buick will first be introduced with GM's 2.4L DI ecotec powertrain next year, and will follow in 2011 with the Two-Mode FWD plug-in hybrid," Stephens said.

The Buick plug-in hybrid will use the same manganese-spinel based chemistry and polymer battery cells as the extended range electric Chevrolet Volt. The 8 kwh battery -- containing half the energy of the Volt battery pack -- will be packaged in a rectangular-shaped box under the cargo floor.