The quarter was GM's ninth-consecutive profitable period, a reversal of fortunes it says was made possible by strong numbers in North America, Asia and South America. Europe, however, "remains a work in progress," the automaker's CEO, Dan Akerson, said in a prepared statement.
GM says that its North American earnings were up 35 percent to $1.69 billion before interest thanks to solid demand for more profitable products. While GM's sales aren't especially strong so far this year and its North American market share is declining, the automaker is making significantly more per vehicle than it used to.
In Europe, meanwhile, GM's Opel division posted a $256 million loss, although the first quarter was actually its best period since nearly a year ago when it was profitable.
