UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM 8-K
                                 CURRENT REPORT


Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report:  April 10, 1997

                         CAPITAL AUTO RECEIVABLES, INC.
            ------------------------------------------------------
            (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


         Delaware                  333-06039           38-3082892
- -------------------------------    ----------      -------------------
(State or other jurisdiction of    Commission        (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)     File Number     Identification No.)


Corporate Trust Center
1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, DE                       19801
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(Address of principal executive offices)               (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code    302-658-7581
                                                      ------------


Items 1-4.        Not Applicable.

Item 5.           Other Events.

                  On  April  8,  1997,   the   registrant   made  available  to
                  prospective  investors  a series  term sheet  setting  forth a
                  description of the collateral pool and the proposed  structure
                  of  $1,408,404,075.83  Aggregate  Principal  Amount of Class A
                  6.50%   Asset   Backed   Certificates,   Series   1997-A   and
                  $93,893,605.06  Aggregate  Principal  Amount  of Class B 6.50%
                  Asset  Backed  Certificates,  Series  1997-A of  Capital  Auto
                  Receivables,  Inc.  Only the  Class A  Certificates  are being
                  offered  for  sale.  The  Class B Certificates  are not  being
                  offered for  sale  and  initially will be held by Capital Auto
                  Receivables, Inc. The series term sheet is attached  hereto as
                  Exhibit 99.

Item 6.           Not applicable.

Item 7.           Exhibits.

Exhibit 99.       The  following is filed as an Exhibit to this Report under
                  Exhibit 99.

                        Series Term Sheet dated April 8, 1997,  with  respect to
                        the  proposed  issuance  of the  Class  A  Asset  Backed
                        Certificates  and the Class B Asset Backed  Certificates
                        of Capital Auto Receivables, Inc. 1997-A.


                                   SIGNATURES

Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934,  the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


                             CAPITAL AUTO RECEIVABLES, INC.
                             ----------------------------------------
                                         (Registrant)


                              s/ Eric A. Feldstein
                             ----------------------------------------
Dated:     April 10, 1997    Eric A. Feldstein, Chairman of the Board
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                             s/ John R. Rines
                             ----------------------------------------
Dated:     April 10, 1997    John R. Rines, President and Director
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                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit             Description                               Page
- -------             -----------                               ----

99                  Series Term Sheet dated April 8, 1997