Dhaka, Jan. 12 -- General Motors Co, as part of a $27 billion initiative to match or surpass Tesla Inc in the electric vehicle sector, is working with "all the best startups" on next-generation EV battery technology while planning a big boost in production capacity for its new Ultium battery system, an executive said on Monday.

"We're partnering with some great companies," including Honda Motor and LG Chem, on electric vehicles and batteries, said Doug Parks, GM's executive vice president of global product development. But "we're also looking outside the company to startups to get on the front edge of that learning curve."

Parks, speaking at an investor conference, said GM continues to build its relationship with Honda, with whom the US...