DETROIT (WKZO) -- General Motors is reportedly paying a big price for every Volt it sells.

Estimates from Reuters suggest GM is losing as much as 49-thousand dollars for each of the plug-in hybrids.  Aggressive lease offers for the car might mean the automaker is paying even more for each sale.

The cost of development is also a factor, as General Motors has invested more than a billion dollars in the cars.  The Volt has a list price of around 40-thousand dollars, and sales have not reached GM's early projections.