-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 THh2bzuqz/b7v0UxOGxVIWHtXEDZcOnzqvHbkRJPHbSVBHWZe3K6CdhLxr7dzvi4
 3Gh6l3bUBe90zFP/ma4CEQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-03-012608.txt : 20030721
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-03-012608.hdr.sgml : 20030721
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030721141906
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-03-012608
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030721
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030721

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			JOHNS MICHAEL M E
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001221096

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-05690
		FILM NUMBER:		03794348

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

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
</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>2003-07-21</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000040987</issuerCik><issuerName>GENUINE PARTS CO</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>GPC</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001221096</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>JOHNS MICHAEL M E</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Phantom Shares</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value><footnoteId 
id="F1" /></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-07-18</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>35</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>31.7</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1988-08-18</value><footnoteId id="F2" /></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>1988-08-18</value><footnoteId id="F2" /></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>35</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>3990</value><footnoteId id="F3" /></sharesOwnedFollowingT
ransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Security converts to Common Stock on a one for one basis.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Exercisable and expiration date is equal to effective retirement date.</footnote><footnote id="F3">Includes 34 shares of Phantom Stock acquired through Dividend Reinvestment Plan.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Frank Howard Attorney in Fact</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-07-21</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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