General Motors will invest 28 million U.S. dollars to carry out "new major improvements" to a battery research and development and detection laboratory in the suburbs of Detroit starting this fall.

General Motors CEO Mary? Marybarra said that "new major improvements" include new detection boxes and advanced equipment to accelerate the company's next-generation battery architecture.

Barra previously stated that with the launch of the next-generation electric vehicle platform in 2021, GM's electric vehicle business will be profitable. This is an important milestone. General Motors plans to launch at least 20 new all-electric and hydrogen fuel-powered lithium battery vehicles worldwide by 2023.

"Creating a world with zero accidents, zero emissions, and zero congestion will of course not happen overnight, but our journey to the future is ongoing. This is just the beginning." Barra said.

In 2013, General Motors spent 20 million U.S. dollars to nearly double the size of the battery research and development and detection laboratory to 85,000 square feet. The laboratory was originally opened in 2009 and is responsible for detecting and verifying batteries and battery packs for all GM automotive electrification systems.

According to Barra, GM will start purchasing battery packs from LG Electronics' new plant in Hazel Park, Michigan this fall. The company also installed Chevrolet boltEVs at its nearby Orion assembly plant.