The deal is GM's first involvement in autonomous driving in the world's biggest car market.

Momenta is among the few companies that hold a permit for gathering high-definition maps information in China, a key tool in autonomous driving technologies. It is working with automakers to develop mass-production vehicles with self-driving functions to gather real-time data.

The company is also backed by SAIC Motor, GM's main Chinese partner, as well as Toyota Motor and Daimler.

Said GM China chief Julian Blissett: "Customers in China are embracing electrification and advanced self-driving technology faster than anywhere else in the world, and the agreement between GM and Momenta will accelerate our deployment of next-generation solutions tailor-made for our consumers in China."