DETROIT — General Motors took a major step on Thursday to 'squash some of the rumors' that the Chevrolet Volt program is in jeopardy in light of the automaker's financial woes.'The development of the Volt remains on schedule despite the ongoing talks in Washington, D.C.,' wrote Jon Lauckner, GM vice president of global program management, in a posting on the GM FastLane blog. 'It is one of the highest, if not the highest, priority programs in the company and that hasn't changed, nor has the commitment of resources to fund it.'In fact, with the successful completion of each development activity, we have more confidence than ever the Volt will start production as planned in late 2010.'The Volt has become a powerful symbol and the centerpiece of what GM hopes will be a revived, more fuel-efficient company.Lauckner laid out the timetable for work on the Volt in his posting.He said that the automaker has already finalized the engineering for final prototypes and that testing will begin on them in July. He referred to the Generation II prototypes of the Volt in a picture that accompanied the text. 'We finished building the last of the 33 vehicles in this hardware stage last week,' he noted., GM said it was suspending work on the Flint, Michigan, factory slated to build engines for the Volt. But the automaker said the plug-in hybrid would still be in showrooms on time in late 2010.Lauckner took up the issue of the work stoppage on construction at the engine plant. 'It is true that, due to our current liquidity situation among other things, we have temporarily suspended some construction activities at the new engine plant in Flint,' he said. 'This has no impact on our production timing for the Volt or the Chevy Cruze. Moreover, our global manufacturing process is flexible enough to construct this plant within a year, and the planning activities that require less cash up front are continuing in Flint.'I realize some of you will remain skeptical of the Volt program and its timing, that's just human nature: but I ask you to reserve judgment until 2010. Until then, know that work on the Volt remains on schedule.'Inside Line says: With word of federal help, there's even more reason to believe that the Volt still lives. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent