1
 
                                                                      EXHIBIT 11
 
                  GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
                       COMPUTATION OF EARNINGS PER SHARE
                         ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON STOCKS
 


                                                                       THREE MONTHS ENDED
                                                                         JUNE 30, 1996
                                                              ------------------------------------
                                                               $1 2/3 PAR                   CLASS
                                                                  VALUE         CLASS E       H
                                                                 COMMON         COMMON      COMMON
                                                                  STOCK          STOCK      STOCK
                                                              -------------     -------     ------
                                                                  (DOLLARS IN MILLIONS EXCEPT
                                                                       PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
                                                                                   
Income from continuing operations attributable to common
  stocks...................................................     $ 2,020.3       $    --     $75.2
Income (Loss) from discontinued operations attributable to
  common stocks............................................         (15.0)       (193.8)       --
                                                                 --------       -------     -----
Net income (loss) attributable to common stocks............       2,005.3        (193.8)     75.2
Dividends on preference stocks.............................          20.2            --        --
                                                                 --------       -------     -----
Earnings (Loss) attributable to common stocks..............       1,985.1        (193.8)     75.2
Dividends on common stocks.................................         297.4          73.1      23.6
                                                                 --------       -------     -----
Undistributed earnings (loss) attributable to common
  stocks...................................................     $ 1,687.7       $(266.9)    $51.6
                                                                 ========       =======     =====
Memo:
Undistributed earnings from continuing operations
  attributable to common stocks............................     $ 1,702.7       $    --     $51.6
                                                                 ========       =======     =====
Undistributed earnings (loss) from discontinued operations
  attributable to common stocks............................     $   (15.0)      $(266.9)    $  --
                                                                 ========       =======     =====
Weighted average shares outstanding (in millions)..........         755.9         479.3      98.2
                                                                 ========       =======     =====
Per Share Data
Earnings per share attributable to undistributed earnings
  from continuing operations...............................        $ 2.25        $   --     $0.53
Earnings (Loss) per share attributable to undistributed
  earnings from discontinued operations....................         (0.02)        (0.56)       --
Dividends..................................................          0.40          0.15      0.24
                                                                 --------       -------     -----
Earnings (Loss) per share attributable to common stocks....        $ 2.63        $(0.41)    $0.77
                                                                 ========       =======     =====

 
Note: The difference between fully diluted and primary earnings per share is
      immaterial.
 
                                       39
   2
 
                  GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
                       COMPUTATION OF EARNINGS PER SHARE
                   ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON STOCKS -- CONTINUED
 


                                                                        THREE MONTHS ENDED
                                                                           JUNE 30, 1995
                                                                 ---------------------------------
                                                                  $1 2/3 PAR      CLASS     CLASS
                                                                     VALUE          E         H
                                                                    COMMON        COMMON    COMMON
                                                                     STOCK        STOCK     STOCK
                                                                 -------------    ------    ------
                                                                    (DOLLARS IN MILLIONS EXCEPT
                                                                        PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
                                                                                   
Income from continuing operations attributable to common
  stocks......................................................     $ 2,013.3      $  --     $68.8
Income (Loss) from discontinued operations attributable to
  common stocks...............................................         (17.8)     205.8        --
                                                                    --------      ------    -----
Net income attributable to common stocks......................       1,995.5      205.8      68.8
Premium on repurchase of preference stocks....................        (153.4)        --        --
Dividends on preference stocks................................         (46.1)        --        --
                                                                    --------      ------    -----
Earnings attributable to common stocks........................       1,796.0      205.8      68.8
Dividends on common stocks....................................         223.7       57.1      22.0
                                                                    --------      ------    -----
Undistributed earnings........................................       1,572.3      148.7      46.8
Adjustments
  Change in earnings attributable to each class of common
     stock related to the assumed exercise of stock
     options*.................................................          (1.5)        --       1.5
  Dividends on assumed common stock transactions..............          (1.1)        --      (0.4)
                                                                    --------      ------    -----
Adjusted earnings attributable to common stocks...............     $ 1,569.7      $148.7    $47.9
                                                                    ========      ======    =====
Memo:
  Adjusted earnings from continuing operations attributable to
     common stocks............................................     $ 1,587.5      $  --     $47.9
                                                                    ========      ======    =====
  Adjusted earnings from discontinued operations attributable
     to common stocks.........................................     $   (17.8)     $148.7    $  --
                                                                    ========      ======    =====
Weighted average shares outstanding (in millions).............         746.3      438.7      95.4
Adjustment
  Assumed exercise of dilutive stock options*.................           3.8        0.1       2.1
                                                                    --------      ------    -----
Adjusted weighted average shares outstanding..................         750.1      438.8      97.5
                                                                    ========      ======    =====
Per Share Data
Earnings per share attributable to undistributed earnings from
  continuing operations.......................................        $ 2.11       $ --     $0.49
Earnings (Loss) per share attributable to undistributed
  earnings from discontinued operations.......................         (0.02)      0.34        --
Dividends.....................................................          0.30       0.13      0.23
                                                                    --------      ------    -----
Earnings per share attributable to common stocks..............        $ 2.39      $0.47     $0.72
                                                                    ========      ======    =====

 
Note: The difference between fully diluted and primary earnings per share is
immaterial.
 
* The assumed exercise of stock options reflected by these adjustments has no
  effect on Class E or Class H common stock earnings per share, because to the
  extent that shares of Class E or Class H common stock deemed to be outstanding
  would increase, such increased shares would also increase the numerator of the
  fraction used to determine Available Separate Consolidated Net Income.
 
                                       40
   3
 
                  GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
                       COMPUTATION OF EARNINGS PER SHARE
                   ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON STOCKS -- CONTINUED
 


                                                                         SIX MONTHS ENDED
                                                                           JUNE 30, 1996
                                                                -----------------------------------
                                                                  $1 2/3 PAR                 CLASS
                                                                    VALUE         CLASS E      H
                                                                    COMMON        COMMON     COMMON
                                                                    STOCK          STOCK     STOCK
                                                                --------------    -------    ------
                                                                    (DOLLARS IN MILLIONS EXCEPT
                                                                        PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
                                                                                    
Income from continuing operations attributable to common
  stocks.....................................................      $2,745.0       $    --    $151.2
Income (Loss) from discontinued operations attributable to
  common stocks..............................................          (5.4)         15.4       --
                                                                   --------       -------    ------
Net income attributable to common stocks.....................       2,739.6          15.4     151.2
Dividends on preference stocks...............................          40.5            --       --
                                                                   --------       -------    ------
Earnings attributable to common stocks.......................       2,699.1          15.4     151.2
Dividends on common stocks...................................         604.7         145.1      46.9
                                                                   --------       -------    ------
Undistributed earnings (loss) attributable to common
  stocks.....................................................      $2,094.4       $(129.7)   $104.3
                                                                   ========       =======    ======
Memo:
Undistributed earnings from continuing operations
  attributable to common stocks..............................      $2,099.8       $    --    $104.3
                                                                   ========       =======    ======
Undistributed earnings (loss) from discontinued operations
  attributable to common stocks..............................      $   (5.4)      $(129.7)   $  --
                                                                   ========       =======    ======
Weighted average shares outstanding (in millions)............         755.6         470.1      97.8
                                                                   ========       =======    ======
Per Share Data
Earnings per share attributable to undistributed earnings
  from continuing operations.................................        $ 2.78        $   --     $1.07
Earnings (Loss) per share attributable to undistributed
  earnings from discontinued operations......................         (0.01)        (0.26)      --
Dividends....................................................          0.80          0.30      0.48
                                                                   --------       -------    ------
Earnings per share attributable to common stocks.............        $ 3.57        $ 0.04     $1.55
                                                                   ========       =======    ======

 
Note: The difference between fully diluted and primary earnings per share is
immaterial.
 
                                       41
   4
 
                  GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
                       COMPUTATION OF EARNINGS PER SHARE
                   ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON STOCKS -- CONCLUDED
 


                                                                        SIX MONTHS ENDED
                                                                         JUNE 30, 1995
                                                              ------------------------------------
                                                               $1 2/3 PAR                   CLASS
                                                                  VALUE         CLASS E       H
                                                                 COMMON         COMMON      COMMON
                                                                  STOCK          STOCK      STOCK
                                                              -------------     -------     ------
                                                                  (DOLLARS IN MILLIONS EXCEPT
                                                                       PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
                                                                                   
Income from continuing operations before cumulative effect
  of accounting change attributable to common stocks.......     $ 3,907.2       $    --     $132.1
Income from discontinued operations attributable to common
  stocks...................................................          56.6         328.2        --
Cumulative effect of accounting change.....................         (51.8)           --        --
                                                                ---------       -------     ------
Net income attributable to stocks..........................       3,912.0         328.2      132.1
Premium on repurchase of preference stocks.................        (153.4)           --        --
Dividends on preference stocks.............................        (118.1)           --        --
                                                                ---------       -------     ------
Earnings attributable to common stocks.....................       3,640.5         328.2      132.1
Dividends on common stocks.................................         374.5          91.3       43.6
                                                                ---------       -------     ------
Undistributed earnings.....................................       3,266.0         236.9       88.5
Adjustments
  Change in earnings attributable to each class of common
     stock related to the assumed exercise of stock
     options*..............................................          (3.0)           --        3.0
  Dividends on assumed common stock transactions...........          (1.9)           --       (1.0)
                                                                ---------       -------     ------
Adjusted earnings attributable to common stocks............     $ 3,261.1       $ 236.9      $90.5
                                                                =========       =======     ======
Memo:
Adjusted earnings from continuing operations attributable
  to common stocks.........................................     $ 3,204.5       $    --      $90.5
                                                                =========       =======     ======
Adjusted earnings from discontinued operations attributable
  to common stocks.........................................     $    56.6       $ 236.9     $  --
                                                                =========       =======     ======
Weighted average shares outstanding (in millions)..........         749.4         369.7       94.8
Adjustment
  Assumed exercise of dilutive stock options*..............           3.8           0.1        2.1
                                                                ---------       -------     ------
Adjusted weighted average shares outstanding...............         753.2         369.8       96.9
                                                                =========       =======     ======
Per Share Data
Earnings per share attributable to undistributed earnings
  from continuing operations before cumulative effect of
  accounting change........................................        $ 4.32        $   --      $0.93
Earnings per share attributable to undistributed earnings
  from discontinued operations.............................          0.08          0.64        --
Cumulative effect of accounting change.....................         (0.07)           --        --
Adjustment.................................................            --         (0.01)**     --
Dividends..................................................          0.50          0.26       0.46
                                                                ---------       -------     ------
Earnings per share attributable to common stocks...........        $ 4.83        $ 0.89      $1.39
                                                                =========       =======     ======

 
Note: The difference between fully diluted and primary earnings per share is
      immaterial.
 
 * The assumed exercise of stock options reflected by these adjustments has no
   effect on Class E or Class H common stock earnings per share, because to the
   extent that shares of Class E or Class H common stock deemed to be
   outstanding would increase, such increased shares would also increase the
   numerator of the fraction used to determine Available Separate Consolidated
   Net Income.
 
** The per-share reported earnings attributable to Class E common stock of $0.89
   equals the sum of the separate computations of each of the first two
   quarters, consistent with the requirements for calculating earnings per share
   based on EDS earnings and the Class E denominator. The six month calculation
   shown above (based on 1995 weighted average outstanding Class E shares for
   the period) requires an adjustment of ($0.01) due to the significant
   differences in the average number of shares outstanding in each quarter
   resulting from the Class E stock contribution to the U.S. hourly pension
   plan.
 
                                       42