8-K

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 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) January 21, 2009

GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

1-43	DELAWARE	38-0572515
(Commission File Number)	(State or other jurisdiction of	(I.R.S. Employer
	incorporation)	Identification No.)

300 Renaissance Center, Detroit, Michigan	48265-3000
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)	(Zip Code)

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

Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17-CFR 240.14a-12)

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

TABLE OF CONTENTS

EX-99.1

ITEM 7.01. REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE

On January 21, 2009 General Motors Corporation (GM) issued a news release announcing global quarterly and annual sales. The release and charts are attached as Exhibit 99.1.

ITEM 9.01 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

EXHIBIT

Exhibit	Description	Method of Filing
Exhibit 99.1	Sales Release and Charts	Attached as Exhibit
	Dated January 21, 2009

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: January 21, 2009	By:	/s/ NICK S. CYPRUS (Nick S. Cyprus
		Controller and Chief Accounting Officer)

EX-99.1

News	General Motors	GM Communications
	Corporation	Detroit, Mich., USA
		media.gm.com

For Release: 8:45 a.m. ET
January 21, 2009

GM Announces 2008 Global Sales of 8.35 Million Vehicles

• GM Asia Pacific sales volume grows 3 percent; Chevrolet sales in China grows 16 percent to nearly 200,000 vehicles; 1.09M vehicles sold in China sets record with 6 percent volume growth

• Third consecutive year of more than 2 million vehicles sold in Europe; Chevrolet sales breakthrough 500,000 mark with record share; Opel sets sales record in Central and Eastern Europe with volume up 13 percent

• GM beats the industry with more than 1.27 million total vehicle sales in Latin America, Africa and Middle East Region led by top-selling Chevrolet Corsa, Celta and Aveo

• GM continues emerging markets leadership with 2008 market share growth in 14 of 26 markets

DETROIT – Record-setting sales performance in GM’s Latin America, Africa and Middle East and Asia Pacific regions, and a third consecutive 2 million vehicles sales performance in Europe during 2008, helped General Motors sell more than 8.35 million vehicles globally last year. GM’s nearly 3 percent growth in both the Asia Pacific and Latin America, Africa and Middle East regions partially offset North America sales that declined 21 percent, and growing pressure in Europe that resulted in 7 percent fewer sales. Compared with 2007, GM’s total sales were down 11 percent, reflecting continuing global economic pressures that include tightening credit, falling commodities prices and lack of GDP growth.

In 2008, GM sold 5.37 million vehicles outside the U.S., accounting for 64 percent of total global sales volume compared with 59 percent a year ago.

In the fourth quarter of 2008, GM sales of 1.70 million vehicles were down 26 percent compared with the same quarter a year ago. Most of that decline was reflected in 379,000 fewer vehicles sold in North America as the market yielded to a crushing lack of consumer confidence, and tightened credit requirements, in the United States.

MORE

GM Continues Growth in Emerging Markets

“GM’s 2008 sales performance shows that we are continuing to take advantage of new emerging market opportunities and are meeting customer needs with fuel-efficient products that offer compelling design and great value – such as the award-winning Opel/Vauxhall Insignia in Europe, the Buick Excelle in China and the Corsa in Latin America,” Jonathan Browning, vice president, global sales, service and marketing, said today. “We saw sales volume increases in the key four emerging markets of Brazil (up 10 percent), Russia (up 30 percent), India (up 9 percent), and China (up 6 percent).”

“The challenges in the global financial markets, including credit tightening, the drop in commodity prices, and economic uncertainty continue to negatively impact overall demand for new vehicles,” Browning added. “For the total global industry, we saw about 3.5 million fewer vehicles sold in 2008 than the previous year.”

With these market challenges comes significant opportunity and GM is well-positioned with new products either on showroom floors or on the way in the near future.

Chevrolet sales in Asia Pacific grew 14 percent in 2008 compared with a year ago. Chevrolet sales in China (up 16 percent) and India (up 9 percent) powered much of this growth. The Wuling brand continued strong growth in China with sales up 17 percent in 2008 compared with a year ago. The Buick channel is very strong in China with the all-new Regal and soon-to-be-launched LaCrosse. The Chevrolet Cruze and Cadillac SRX also will play important roles in taking advantage of China growth in the months and years ahead.

In the Latin America, Africa and Middle East region – a traditional Chevrolet stronghold – 2008 sales grew 3 percent compared with 2007. Chevrolet accounted for nearly 90 percent of GM’s sales in the region and Brazil remains the second-largest volume market for Chevrolet. Also, GMC, Cadillac and Saab showed impressive annual percentage increases in their sales volume – up 24, 22 and 16 percent, respectively, compared with a year ago. GM sales in the LAAM region beat the expected industry performance, with more than 1.27 million vehicles sold.

MORE

A large, relatively young population with a low car-per-capita ratio, hold promise for the market in years to come. Several new Chevrolet product launches are on tap for 2009 including the Cruze, Malibu, Traverse and Camaro.

Chevrolet sales in Europe also contributed to the brand’s solid 2008 results, growing 11 percent and breaking though the 500,000 vehicle mark for the first time. Chevrolet is also performing strongly in emerging markets. It remains the top-selling import brand in Russia. In addition, Opel sales in Russia increased by 49 percent, while Saab increased 68 percent in 2008 compared with a year ago. The Opel Insignia won the prestigious European Car of the Year Award – a first for Opel in 22 years and a strong statement about GM’s global midsize vehicle architecture. Important launches for GM this year in the region include the Opel Insignia Sports Tourer and Astra; Chevrolet Cruze; and the new Saab 9-3X and 9-5.

A highlight of GM’s North America regional performance was the all-new Chevrolet Malibu sedan that achieved the highest percentage gain in annual sales volume (39 percent) of any of the top-20 selling vehicles in the United States. While GM’s total North America vehicle sales volume in 2008 declined 21 percent, there were a number of bright future product opportunities highlighted at the North America International Auto Show in Detroit this month. They included the new Chevrolet Camaro and second-generation Equinox; the second-generation Cadillac SRX and all-new CTS sport wagon; and the Buick LaCrosse.

Sales of Cadillac outside of the United States were supported by strong growth of the brand in Latin America, Africa and Middle East (up 22 percent).

Note: Global sales results are based on preliminary numbers reported and have been rounded.

MORE

General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), one of the world’s largest automakers, was founded in 1908, and today manufactures cars and trucks in 34 countries. With global headquarters in Detroit, GM employs 252,000 people in every major region of the world, and sells and services vehicles in some 140 countries. In 2008, 8.35 million GM cars and trucks were sold globally under the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, Hummer, Opel, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn, Vauxhall and Wuling. GM’s OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services. More information on GM can be found at www.gm.com.

Note: GM sales and production results are available on GM Media OnLine at http://media.gm.com/us/gm/en by clicking on News, then Sales/Production. In this press release and related comments by General Motors management, we use words like “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “objective,” “plan,” “goal” and similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements, representing our current judgment about possible future events. We believe these judgments are reasonable, but actual results may differ materially due to a variety of important factors. Among other items, such factors might include: our ability to comply with the requirements of our credit agreement with the U.S. Department of Treasury; the availability of funding for future loans under that credit agreement; our ability to execute the restructuring plans that we have disclosed, our ability to maintain adequate liquidity and financing sources and an appropriate level of debt; and changes in general economic conditions, market acceptance of our products; shortages of and price increases for fuel; significant changes in the competitive environment and the effect of competition on our markets, including on our pricing policies. GM’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly report on Form 10-Q provide information about these factors, which may be revised or supplemented in future reports to the SEC on Form 10-Q or 8-K.

# # #

Contact:

John McDonald
GM Corporate News
313-667-3714 (office)
313-418-2139 (mobile)
john.m.mcdonald@gm.com

General Motors Corporation
Global Vehicle Sales¹

	Q4						CYTD
	2008		2007		% Chg		2008		2007		% Chg
GMNA
Chevrolet		422,040		614,281		-31.3		2,156,288		2,654,019		-18.8
GMC		85,958		142,567		-39.7		438,176		578,845		-24.3
Pontiac		62,812		110,742		-43.3		382,949		485,885		-21.2
Saturn		32,382		56,207		-42.4		206,733		265,901		-22.3
Cadillac		33,348		62,576		-46.7		170,481		225,032		-24.2
Buick		27,643		45,219		-38.9		154,275		201,690		-23.5
HUMMER		5,810		14,057		-58.7		29,968		59,141		-49.3
Saab		4,349		7,514		-42.1		23,186		35,175		-34.1
Opel/Vauxhall		418		736		-43.2		1,935		2,248		-13.9
Other		0		0		0		0		7,906		0
Total		674,760		1,053,899		-36.0		3,563,991		4,515,842		-21.1
GME
Opel/Vauxhall		284,295		378,336		-24.9		1,458,769		1,629,863		-10.5
Chevrolet		121,856		128,012		-4.8		508,124		459,436		10.6
Saab		12,857		20,613		-37.6		66,582		85,206		-21.9
Cadillac		619		1,166		-46.9		4,556		4,759		-4.3
HUMMER		474		704		-32.7		2,286		2,322		-1.6
Other		63		188		-66.5		216		1,008		-78.6
Total		420,164		529,019		-20.6		2,040,533		2,182,594		-6.5
GMLAAM
Chevrolet		240,391		308,699		-22.1		1,143,874		1,107,685		3.3
GMC		7,633		9,604		-20.5		42,384		34,209		23.9
Other		8,116		9,078		-10.6		40,950		35,883		14.1
Opel/Vauxhall		8,177		11,619		-29.6		39,764		49,353		-19.4
Cadillac		801		914		-12.4		4,377		3,596		21.7
HUMMER		758		1,165		-34.9		3,781		4,179		-9.5
Buick		83		250		-66.8		679		974		-30.3
Saab		172		100		72.0		521		451		15.5
Total		266,131		341,429		-22.1		1,276,330		1,236,330		3.2
GMAP
Wuling2		149,020		132,047		12.9		606,499		516,435		17.4
Chevrolet		69,136		77,826		-11.2		311,971		274,773		13.5
Buick		68,758		95,575		-28.1		280,440		333,131		-15.8
Holden		32,569		37,059		-12.1		139,407		158,234		-11.9
Daewoo		19,244		34,550		-44.3		121,081		134,528		-10.0
Cadillac		1,394		2,188		-36.3		7,624		7,770		-1.9
Saab		543		890		-39.0		3,006		3,894		-22.8
Opel/Vauxhall		479		1,249		-61.6		2,632		5,251		-49.9
HUMMER		204		328		-37.8		1,538		703		118.8
Other		147		215		-31.6		895		956		-6.4
Total		341,494		381,927		-10.6		1,475,093		1,435,675		2.7
GLOBAL
Chevrolet		853,423		1,128,818		-24.4		4,120,257		4,495,913		-8.4
Opel/Vauxhall		293,369		391,940		-25.1		1,503,100		1,686,715		-10.9
Wuling		149,020		132,047		12.9		606,499		516,435		17.4
GMC		93,591		152,171		-38.5		480,560		613,054		-21.6
Buick		96,484		141,044		-31.6		435,394		535,795		-18.7
Pontiac		62,812		110,742		-43.3		382,949		485,885		-21.2
Saturn		32,382		56,207		-42.4		206,733		265,901		-22.3
Cadillac		36,162		66,844		-45.9		187,038		241,157		-22.4
Holden		32,569		37,059		-12.1		139,407		158,234		-11.9
Daewoo		19,244		34,550		-44.3		121,081		134,528		-10.0
Saab		17,921		29,117		-38.5		93,295		124,726		-25.2
HUMMER		7,246		16,254		-55.4		37,573		66,345		-43.4
Other		8,326		9,481		-12.2		42,061		45,753		-8.1
Total		1,702,549		2,306,274		-26.2		8,355,947		9,370,441		-10.8

Notes:
(1)	Quarterly sales data is preliminary and subject to change
(2)	We own 34% of SGMW and under the joint venture agreement have significant rights as a member as well as the contractual right to report SGMW global sales in China as part of our global market share.