The new facility, located on the site of GM China's Shanghai headquarters, will house GM's China science lab, a vehicle engineering lab, an advanced powertrain engineering lab and an advanced design center.

Initially the center will conduct research on lightweight materials and batteries for plug-in hybrids and other advanced vehicles, according to GM.

It will also support the engineering work conducted by the Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center, a Shanghai-based design center run as a joint venture between GM and SAIC, as well as engineering efforts at GM's operations globally.

Upon completion of its second phase project in the second half of 2012, the 65,000-square-meter center will employ more than 300 engineers, designers, researchers and technicians.