<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM GENERAL
MOTORS CORPORATION SEPTEMBER 30, 1996 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO THIRD QUARTER 1996 FORM 10-Q.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000040730
<NAME> GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1996
<CASH>                                          13,398
<SECURITIES>                                     6,421
<RECEIVABLES>                                   63,874
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                     12,129
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                     0
<PP&E>                                          77,682
<DEPRECIATION>                                  41,508
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 215,889
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                0
<BONDS>                                         81,328
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          1
<COMMON>                                         1,271
<OTHER-SE>                                      20,528
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   215,889
<SALES>                                        109,416
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               123,121
<CGS>                                           92,872
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  101,679
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                   109
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                   433
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               4,258
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  5,955
<INCOME-TAX>                                     1,788
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              4,167
<DISCONTINUED>                                      10
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     4,177
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     5.14
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0