DETROIT — General Motors said on Monday that it had acquired a company that specializes in laser-imaging technology geared toward enhancing the development of autonomous vehicles.

G.M., the nation’s largest automaker, said it had bought Strobe, a three-year-old company based in Pasadena, Calif., and will fold its operations into Cruise Automation, a subsidiary dedicated to self-driving technology.

The deal gives G.M. in-house engineering expertise in the development of so-called lidar sensors that create high-definition images for vehicles operated by computers.

Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

Adding Strobe to its Cruise operations will allow G.M. to accelerate its efforts to build and test electric cars with self-driving capabilities.