General Motors is in discussions to buy electric vehicle batteries that would use technology from China’s Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. and be assembled at a new plant slated to be built in the U.S., according to people familiar with the matter.

GM is allegedly engaging in talks with Japanese electronics firm TDK Corp. to purchase EV batteries created through licensed Chinese technology.

Under the deal, a Japanese company would license technology from CATL to make lithium iron phosphate cells, similar to CATL's partnership with Ford.