-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 WzcCKPH10D8JJ4s1sS7Z+DN+0W+6cFCHBKJNsDOrRdrfSRz19NdMtDTS/+nYs5Vb
 t7UoeqbylPGxIRQWlN7KYA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-03-006306.txt : 20030603
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-03-006306.hdr.sgml : 20030603
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030603112407
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-03-006306
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030602
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030603

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GENUINE PARTS CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000040987
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	WHOLESALE-MOTOR VEHICLE SUPPLIES & NEW PARTS [5013]
		IRS NUMBER:				580254510
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			GA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2999 CIRCLE 75 PARKWAY
		CITY:			ATLANTA
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30339
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4049531700

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2999 CIRCLE 75 PARKWAY
		CITY:			ATLANTA
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30339

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GALLAGHER THOMAS
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001216098

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-05690
		FILM NUMBER:		03729366

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O OXFORD INDUSTRIES INC
		STREET 2:		222 PIEDMONT AVE NE PO BOX 54600
		CITY:			ATLANTA
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30308
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4046531437

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2999 CIRCLE 75 PARKWAY
		CITY:			ATLANTA
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30339
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 SUBMISSION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-06-02</periodOfReport><issuer><issuerCik>0000040987</issuerCik><issuerName>GENUINE PARTS CO</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>GPC</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001216098</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>GALLAGHER THOMAS</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>President</officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-06-02</value>
</transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>4350</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>23.7917</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>190502</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Stock Options (Right to Buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>23.7917</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-06-02</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><t
ransactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>4350</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>23.7917</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1994-08-13</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2003-08-13</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>4350</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes><footno
te id="F1">Includes 1,507 shares acquired through Genuine Partnership Plan (401-K)</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Thomas Gallagher</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-06-03</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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