DETROIT (WKZO) -- General Motors is betting on the popularity of the Chevy Volt.

GM officials are said to be planning to build as many as 36-thousand of the plug-in hybrid vehicles to be sold worldwide, 20-percent more than in 2012.  Analysts say sales of the Volt could see a big jump in California now that it qualifies to be used in the carpool lane.

GM has been struggling to compete against other alternative-power vehicles such as Toyota's Prius.