<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM GENERAL
MOTORS CORPORATION SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO THIRD QUARTER 1997 FORM 10-Q.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000040730
<NAME> GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000,000
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<CASH>                                          10,406
<SECURITIES>                                    10,490
<RECEIVABLES>                                   66,189
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                     12,820
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                     0
<PP&E>                                          79,807
<DEPRECIATION>                                  41,287
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 233,135
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                0
<BONDS>                                         90,914
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                              222
<PREFERRED>                                          1
<COMMON>                                         1,190
<OTHER-SE>                                      22,387
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   233,135
<SALES>                                        114,267
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               129,277
<CGS>                                           95,522
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  104,559
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                   159
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                   396
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               4,469
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  7,595
<INCOME-TAX>                                     2,675
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              4,961
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     4,961
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     6.35
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0