EX-99.1

GENUINE PARTS COMPANY
REPORTS RECORD SALES AND EARNINGS FOR
SECOND QUARTER AND FIRST HALF OF 2005

Atlanta, Georgia, July 19, 2005 — Genuine Parts Company (NYSE: GPC) reported record sales and earnings for the second quarter and six months ended June 30, 2005. Tom Gallagher, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, announced today that sales totaling $2.5 billion were up 8% compared to the second quarter of 2004. Net income was $111.0 million, an increase of 10%, compared to $101.1 million for the second quarter of 2004. On a per share diluted basis, net income was 63 cents, up 9% compared to 58 cents for the second quarter last year.

For the six months ended June 30, 2005, sales totaled $4.8 billion, up 7% compared to the same period in 2004. Net income for the six months was $217.6 million, an increase of 8% over $201.3 million recorded in the previous year. Earnings per share on a diluted basis were $1.24, up 8% compared to $1.15 for the same period last year.

Mr. Gallagher stated: “Our overall results reflect the positive direction established in each of our businesses over the past eighteen months and all four of our business segments continue to contribute to the Company’s success.

The strongest sales performance in the quarter came from Motion Industries, our Industrial Group. They were up 12% and business conditions remain favorable for the industrial operations. S.P. Richards, our Office Products Group, reported another period of consistent results with sales up 8%. The Automotive Group produced a solid 6% increase and EIS, our Electrical Group, was down 2% in the quarter. The EIS results reflect the impact of the sale of certain Electronic operations in the first quarter and the ongoing EIS business was actually up 5% in the period.”

Mr. Gallagher further commented: “Our balance sheet remains in excellent condition and we continue to generate strong cash flows. We expect our working capital initiatives and earnings growth to further strengthen our financial position in the periods ahead.”

Mr. Gallagher concluded: “We continue to maintain a positive outlook for each of our businesses for 2005. The demographics for the Automotive Aftermarket appear positive for some time to come, the manufacturing indices for Industrial and Electrical/Electronic remain strong and the increasing employment figures bode well for the Office Products Group. Our strategy is to continue to consistently execute our growth initiatives, in each of our businesses, in order to capitalize on these favorable market conditions. At the same time, we will be maintaining our expense control and asset management initiatives to meet our Sales and Earnings targets for 2005.”

Genuine Parts Company will hold a conference call today at 11:00 a.m. EDT to discuss the results of the quarter and the future outlook. Interested parties may listen by dialing 877-422-4780, conference ID 7252241. A replay will also be available at 800-642-1687, conference ID 7252241, until 12:00 a.m. EDT on August 2, 2005.

Some statements in this release constitute forward-looking statements that are subject to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company cautions that its forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. The Company undertakes no duty to update its forward-looking statements, which reflect the Company’s beliefs, expectations, and plans as of the present. Actual results or events may differ materially from those indicated as a result of various important factors. Such factors include, but are not limited to, changes in general economic conditions, the growth rate of the market for the Company’s products and services, the ability to maintain favorable supplier arrangements and relationships, competitive product and pricing pressures, including internet-related initiatives, the effectiveness of the Company’s promotional, marketing and advertising programs, changes in laws and regulations, including changes in accounting and taxation guidance, the uncertainties of litigation, as well as other risks and uncertainties discussed from time to time in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Genuine Parts Company is a distributor of automotive replacement parts in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. The Company also distributes industrial replacement parts in the U.S. and Canada through its Motion Industries subsidiary. S. P. Richards Company, the Office Products Group, distributes business products nationwide in the U.S. and Canada. The Electrical/Electronic Group, EIS, Inc., distributes electrical and electronic components throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

GENUINE PARTS COMPANY and SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME


	Three Months Ended June 30,				Six Months Ended June 30,
	2005		2004		2005		2004
	(Unaudited)
	(in thousands, except per share data)
Net sales	$	2,475,657	$	2,297,686	$	4,817,858	$	4,494,677
Cost of goods sold		1,714,400		1,604,621		3,320,121		3,114,701

		761,257		693,065		1,497,737		1,379,976
Selling, administrative & other expenses		581,419		529,132		1,145,689		1,053,646

Income before income taxes		179,838		163,933		352,048		326,330
Income taxes		68,871		62,787		134,483		124,985

Net income	$	110,967	$	101,146	$	217,565	$	201,345

Basic net income per common share	$	.64	$	.58	$	1.25	$	1.15
Diluted net income per common share	$	.63	$	.58	$	1.24	$	1.15
Weighted average common shares outstanding		174,270		174,829		174,519		174,575
Dilutive effect of stock options and
non-vested restricted stock awards		962		815		971		694

Weighted average common shares outstanding –		175,232		175,644		175,490		175,269

assuming dilution

GENUINE PARTS COMPANY and SUBSIDIARIES
SEGMENT INFORMATION AND FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS


	Three Months Ended June 30,						Six Months Ended June 30,
	2005			2004			2005			2004
	(Unaudited)
	(in thousands, except ratio analysis)

Net sales:
Automotive	$	1,294,783		$	1,218,695		$	2,463,738		$	2,345,246
Industrial		702,591			629,402			1,389,331			1,237,906
Office Products		401,593			372,354			812,522			759,144
Electrical/Electronic Materials		83,748			85,827			168,037			168,906
Other (1)		(7,058	)		(8,592	)		(15,770	)		(16,525	)

Total net sales	$	2,475,657		$	2,297,686		$	4,817,858		$	4,494,677


Operating profit:
Automotive	$	110,780		$	109,492		$	206,087		$	202,753
Industrial		50,355			38,179			98,608			84,298
Office Products		35,611			32,694			81,638			76,448
Electrical/Electronic Materials		4,713			4,300			8,022			7,520

Total operating profit		201,459			184,665			394,355			371,019
Interest expense		(7,263	)		(9,870	)		(15,210	)		(19,847	)
Other, net		(14,358	)		(10,862	)		(27,097	)		(24,842	)

Income before income taxes	$	179,838		$	163,933		$	352,048		$	326,330

Capital expenditures	$	19,556		$	13,514		$	40,324		$	25,571

Depreciation and amortization	$	17,189		$	16,998		$	34,260		$	33,191

Current ratio											3.1/1

Total debt to total capitalization											16.2	%

(1)

Represents the net effect of discounts, incentives and freight billed reported as a component of net sales.

GENUINE PARTS COMPANY and SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS


	June 30,		June 30,
	2005		2004
	(Unaudited)
	(in thousands)
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$	260,538	$	127,732
Trade accounts receivable		1,225,674		1,152,458
Inventories		2,125,366		2,139,207
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		152,571		131,485

TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS		3,764,149		3,550,882
Goodwill and other intangible assets		62,615		57,850
Other assets		403,335		346,116
Total property, plant and equipment, net		380,692		332,863

TOTAL ASSETS	$	4,610,791	$	4,287,711

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Accounts payable	$	974,846	$	779,492
Current portion of long-term debt and other borrowings		929		127,172
Income taxes payable		43,606		45,386
Dividends payable		54,450		52,483
Other current liabilities		154,522		137,427

TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES		1,228,353		1,141,960
Long-term debt		500,000		500,000
Other long-term liabilities		110,954		55,162
Deferred income taxes		116,809		113,254
Minority interests in subsidiaries		55,243		51,514
Common stock		174,061		174,993
Retained earnings and other		2,425,371		2,250,828

TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY		2,599,432		2,425,821

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY	$	4,610,791	$	4,287,711

Note: Certain balance sheet reclassifications have been made to prior year amounts to conform to current year presentation.

GENUINE PARTS COMPANY and SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS


	Six Months Ended June 30,
	2005			2004
	(Unaudited)
	(in thousands)

OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income	$	217,565		$	201,345

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		34,260			33,191
Other		2,188			1,656
Changes in operating assets and liabilities		63,214			1,483

NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES		317,227			237,675

INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchase of property, plant and equipment		(40,324	)		(25,571	)
Other		6,271			—

NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES		(34,053	)		(25,571	)

FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Net payments on credit facilities		(37	)		(21,900	)
Stock options exercised		11,569			28,918
Dividends paid		(107,125	)		(103,667	)
Purchase of stock		(61,983	)		(3,116	)

NET CASH USED IN FINANCING ACTIVITIES		(157,576	)		(99,765	)
NET INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS		125,598			112,339
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD		134,940			15,393

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD	$	260,538		$	127,732


Contact:		Jerry W. Nix, Executive Vice President — Finance (770) 612-2048