<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM GENERAL
MOTORS CORPORATION MARCH 31, 1997 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO FIRST QUARTER 1997 FORM 10-Q.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000040730
<NAME> GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000,000
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<CASH>                                          10,061
<SECURITIES>                                    10,168
<RECEIVABLES>                                   69,178
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                     12,851
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                     0
<PP&E>                                          78,041
<DEPRECIATION>                                  41,037
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 226,059
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                0
<BONDS>                                         88,111
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          1
<COMMON>                                         1,226
<OTHER-SE>                                      21,578
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   226,059
<SALES>                                         37,440
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                42,260
<CGS>                                           31,030
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   34,051
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                    44
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                   130
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               1,461
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  2,785
<INCOME-TAX>                                       989
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              1,796
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     1,796
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.30
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0