8-K

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                           Washington, D.C. 20549-1004





                                    FORM 8-K
                CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
                       THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934



          Date of Report
(Date of earliest event reported) March 18, 2003
                                  ---------------




                           GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION
              -----------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)




      STATE OF DELAWARE                 1-143                 38-0572515
- ----------------------------   -----------------------    -------------------
(State or other jurisdiction   (Commission File Number)   (I.R.S. Employer
 of incorporation)                                        Identification No.)




   300 Renaissance Center, Detroit, Michigan                 48265-3000
- --------------------------------------------                 ----------
  (Address of principal executive offices)                   (Zip Code)







Registrant's telephone number, including area code       (313)-556-5000
                                                         --------------














Item 5.   OTHER EVENTS

            On March 18, 2003, DIRECTV Latin America, LLC, a 75 percent owned
subsidiary of Hughes Electronics Corporation (Hughes), a wholly owned subsidiary
of General Motors Corporation (GM), announced its filing of a voluntary petition
for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. A copy of the
press release relating to such announcement, dated March 18, 2003, is attached
hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

            In addition, DIRECTV Latin America, LLC announced the retirement of
Kevin N. McGrath as chairman and the appointment of Larry N. Chapman as its
president and chief operating officer. A copy of the press release relating to
such announcement, dated March 18, 2003, is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.2 and
is incorporated herein by reference.






                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.       Exhibit
- -----------       -------

99.1              Press Release dated March 18, 2003.

99.2              Press Release dated March 18, 2003.









                                    SIGNATURE

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 hereunto duly authorized.


                                            GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION
                                            --------------------------
                                                    (Registrant)
Date    March 19, 2003
        ---------------
                                            By
                                            /s/Peter R. Bible
                                            --------------------------
                                            (Peter R. Bible,
                                             Chief Accounting Officer)

EX-99

                                                                  Exhibit 99.1


              DIRECTV LATIN AMERICA, LLC FILES VOLUNTARY PETITION
                     FOR CHAPTER 11 REORGANIZATION IN U.S.
                  DIRECTV(TM) SERVICE WILL CONTINUE AS NORMAL
                              ACROSS LATIN AMERICA

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL - March 18, 2003 - DIRECTV Latin America, LLC today
announced that in order to aggressively address the Company's financial and
operational challenges, it has filed a voluntary petition for reorganization
under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. The filing applies only to DIRECTV
Latin America, LLC, a U.S. company, and does not include any of its operating
companies in Latin America and the Caribbean, which will continue regular
operations.

DIRECTV(TM) is the leading pay television service in Latin America and the
Caribbean with approximately 1.6 million subscribers in 28 countries. DIRECTV
Latin America, LLC intends to continue providing its DIRECTV service as normal
without interruption across Latin America and the Caribbean.

"The commitment by DIRECTV Latin America, LLC to provide its customers with the
best service and widest array of entertainment options has not changed," said
Michael A. Feder, chief restructuring officer, DIRECTV Latin America, LLC. "The
action we have taken today in the U.S. is intended to strengthen DIRECTV Latin
America and allow us to continue to selectively add new subscribers on a
profitable basis and further enhance our product offerings for the benefit of
our customers."

DIRECTV Latin America, LLC is a Delaware limited liability company owned by
DIRECTV Latin America Holdings, a subsidiary of Hughes Electronics Corporation
(HUGHES); Darlene Investments LLC, an affiliate of the Cisneros Group of
Companies; and Grupo Clarin. Today's filing was made in the U.S. Bankruptcy
Court in Wilmington, Delaware.

HUGHES has agreed to provide DIRECTV Latin America with a $300 million senior
secured debtor-in-possession financing facility (subject to Bankruptcy Court
approval) to supplement its existing cash flow and help ensure that vendors,
programmers and other business associates receive payment for services incurred
after the bankruptcy filing was made.

In early January 2003, DIRECTV Latin America, LLC announced it had initiated
negotiations with certain programmers, suppliers and business associates in an
effort to resolve issues that have affected the financial performance of the
Company in recent years, including excessive fixed costs and a substantial debt
burden during a time of economic deterioration throughout Latin America. The
Company's decision to voluntarily file for Chapter 11 followed its determination
that these negotiations would not achieve a satisfactory long-term outcome for
DIRECTV Latin America, LLC.

Feder said, "We appreciate the efforts by all involved in the discussions
regarding a potential out-of-court restructuring. However, we have concluded
that a Chapter 11 filing is a necessary and appropriate means of addressing the
Company's current financial and operating challenges. We expect this process
will enable us to significantly reduce our fixed costs by restructuring or
rejecting contracts that are not in line with the current economic realities of
the marketplace or that do not provide for programmers and suppliers to
appropriately share the risks of exchange rate fluctuation and currency
devaluation. The process should also allow us to simplify certain contractual
issues and significantly reduce our long-term debt."

Feder continued, "Because we have already identified the issues that need to be
addressed, we are prepared to move forward quickly and complete the
restructuring process as soon as we are able."

Concurrent with today's announcement, it was announced that Kevin N. McGrath has
retired as chairman of DIRECTV Latin America, LLC, and Larry N. Chapman has been
named president and chief operating officer of the Company, effective
immediately.

DIRECTV Latin America, LLC previously retained AP Services, LLC, an affiliate of
AlixPartners, LLC as restructuring advisors and appointed Feder, a principal of
the firm, as chief restructuring officer. Feder will continue to oversee the
restructuring efforts during the bankruptcy process, reporting to Chapman.

In conjunction with today's Chapter 11 filing, DIRECTV Latin America, LLC has
filed "First Day Motions" in the court in Wilmington to support its employees
and vendors. These filings include requests to continue employee payroll and
benefits as usual; to obtain interim approval of the DIP financing from HUGHES
and maintain existing cash management programs; and to retain legal and
financial professionals to assist with the Company's restructuring. In addition,
the Company intends to file motions today seeking to reject certain executory
agreements that it has determined to be uneconomic and not in its best long-term
interest. These include contracts pertaining to Disney Channel Latin America,
MUSIC CHOICE and certain exclusive rights to broadcast the 2006 FIFA World
Cup(TM) soccer tournament.

DIRECTV Latin America, LLC will continue normal business operations in its
markets across Latin America and the Caribbean.

"We will continue to pursue opportunities to add new programming and services
that further enhance the DIRECTV experience for our customers," Feder said.


About DIRECTV Latin America

DIRECTV is the leading direct-to-home satellite television service in Latin
America and the Caribbean. Currently, the service reaches approximately 1.6
million customers in the region, in a total of 28 markets. DIRECTV is currently
available in: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El
Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Puerto Rico, Trinidad
& Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela and several Caribbean island nations.

DIRECTV Latin America, LLC is a multinational company owned by DIRECTV Latin
America Holdings, a subsidiary of Hughes Electronics Corporation; Darlene
Investments, LLC, an affiliate of the Cisneros Group of Companies; and Grupo
Clarin. DIRECTV Latin America has offices in Buenos Aires, Argentina; Sao Paulo,
Brazil; Cali, Colombia; Mexico City, Mexico; Carolina, Puerto Rico; Fort
Lauderdale, USA; and Caracas, Venezuela. For more information on DIRECTV Latin
America please visit www.directvla.com.

Hughes Electronics Corporation, a unit of General Motors Corporation, is a
world-leading provider of digital television entertainment, broadband satellite
networks and services, and global video and data broadcasting. The earnings of
HUGHES are used to calculate the earnings attributable to the General Motors
Class H common stock (NYSE:GMH).

                                      # # #

EX-99

                                                                   Exhibit 99.2

        KEVIN N. MCGRATH RETIRES AS DIRECTV LATIN AMERICA, LLC CHAIRMAN;
          LARRY N. CHAPMAN NAMED PRESIDENT AND CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER


FORT LAUDERDALE, FL - March 18, 2003 - DIRECTV Latin America, LLC today
announced that Kevin N. McGrath will retire as chairman, effective immediately.

Larry N. Chapman has been named president and chief operating officer of DIRECTV
Latin America, LLC, effective immediately. Chapman, who has been with Hughes
Electronics Corporation since 1980, will report to Eddy W. Hartenstein, chairman
of DIRECTV Latin America, LLC and corporate senior executive vice president of
HUGHES.

HUGHES, through its DIRECTV Latin America Holdings subsidiary, owns 75 percent
of DIRECTV Latin America, LLC.

"I have spent almost 26 years working for General Motors and related
subsidiaries. For the better part of the past decade I have worked with an
extremely talented and dedicated group of people to launch and build DIRECTV(TM)
into the leading pay television service in Latin America and the Caribbean,"
said McGrath. "We were the first all-digital pay television service in Latin
America, bringing the highest quality programming to households throughout the
region. While I am extremely proud of all that the DIRECTV Latin America team
has accomplished and I am confident that the Company will successfully emerge
from its restructuring, I feel it is now time for me to move on. Therefore, I
have elected to retire and spend more time with my family and pursue other
goals."

"Kevin deserves much credit for bringing hundreds of channels of digital
television programming via satellite to TV viewers in countries throughout Latin
America and the Caribbean," said Hartenstein. "Providing such a sophisticated
service to consumers in 28 different countries with different cultures and in
three languages, was a daunting challenge. We appreciate his enormous
contributions and wish him well in his future endeavors."

Hartenstein continued, "Both Larry Chapman and I are committed to the successful
future of DIRECTV Latin America. Larry is a seasoned veteran of HUGHES and
DIRECTV in the U.S. and his breadth of experience and superb knowledge of the
satellite television business make him the ideal choice to oversee DIRECTV Latin
America during this critical period."

DIRECTV Latin America, LLC announced earlier today that in order to aggressively
address the Company's financial and operational challenges, it has filed a
voluntary petition for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy
Code. The filing applies only to DIRECTV Latin America, LLC, a U.S. company, and
does not include any of its operating companies in Latin America and the
Caribbean, which will continue regular operations.

"Kevin has established a strong leadership team and talented employee base at
DIRECTV Latin America and I look forward to working together with Eddy and all
DIRECTV Latin America employees as we position the Company for future profitable
growth," said Chapman. "While we have a formidable challenge ahead, I'm
confident that we will emerge as a stronger and more efficient organization."

DIRECTV is the leading pay television service in Latin America and the Caribbean
with approximately 1.6 million subscribers in 28 countries.

DIRECTV Latin America, LLC is owned by DIRECTV Latin America Holdings, a
subsidiary of Hughes Electronics Corporation (HUGHES); Darlene Investments LLC,
an affiliate of the Cisneros Group of Companies; and Grupo Clarin.

In December 2002, Chapman was named corporate senior vice president of HUGHES to
work with Hartenstein and the DIRECTV Latin America management team applying his
exceptional expertise and experience to assist in evaluating and managing the
DIRECTV Latin America business consistent with the overall objectives of
enhanced competitiveness and profitability.

A member of the original DIRECTV launch team in the U.S., Chapman was executive
vice president in charge of DIRECTV's Product Development, Marketing and
Advertising organizations. In his Product Development role, Chapman was
responsible for DIRECTV's receiver development strategy as well as the
development and deployment of advanced services such as digital video recording
and interactive television. Marketing responsibilities included development and
execution of customer offers and promotions, customer upgrade efforts, and
customer loyalty programs. Advertising responsibilities included oversight of
DIRECTV's advertising agency, advertising strategy, brand management and media
planning.

From March 2000 through August 2001, Chapman was president of DIRECTV Global
Digital Media Inc., a business unit of HUGHES. Before his assignments with
DIRECTV, Chapman served in various business development roles at Hughes
Communications, Inc., a former satellite services subsidiary of Hughes
Electronics Corporation. Chapman holds MS and BS degrees in electrical
engineering from the University of Florida.

McGrath, who joined HUGHES in 1987, was named chairman of DIRECTV Latin America,
LLC and appointed vice president of HUGHES in 1996. Previously, McGrath was
president of DIRECTV International. Prior to his position with DIRECTV
International, McGrath was named president of Hughes Communications, Inc. in
November 1993. Prior to joining HUGHES, McGrath spent a decade in increasingly
responsible positions at various units of General Motors Corporation. He joined
GM in 1977.

About DIRECTV Latin America

DIRECTV is the leading direct-to-home satellite television service in Latin
America and the Caribbean. Currently, the service reaches approximately 1.6
million customers in the region, in a total of 28 markets. DIRECTV is currently
available in: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El
Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Puerto Rico, Trinidad
& Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela and several Caribbean island nations.

DIRECTV Latin America, LLC is a multinational company owned by DIRECTV Latin
America Holdings, a subsidiary of Hughes Electronics Corporation; Darlene
Investments, LLC, an affiliate of the Cisneros Group of Companies, and Grupo
Clarin. DIRECTV Latin America has offices in Buenos Aires, Argentina; Sao Paulo,
Brazil; Cali, Colombia; Mexico City, Mexico; Carolina, Puerto Rico; Fort
Lauderdale, USA; and Caracas, Venezuela. For more information on DIRECTV Latin
America please visit www.directvla.com.


Hughes Electronics Corporation, a unit of General Motors Corporation, is a
world-leading provider of digital television entertainment, broadband satellite
networks and services, and global video and data broadcasting. The earnings of
HUGHES are used to calculate the earnings attributable to the General Motors
Class H common stock (NYSE:GMH).

                                      # # #