SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                           Washington, D.C. 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) April 9, 2003
                                  -------------




                           GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION
              -----------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)




      STATE OF DELAWARE                 1-143                 38-0572515
----------------------------   -----------------------    -------------------
(State or other jurisdiction   (Commission File Number)   (I.R.S. Employer
 of incorporation)                                        Identification No.)




  300 Renaissance Center, Detroit, Michigan                  48265-3000
--------------------------------------------                 ----------
  (Address of principal executive offices)                   (Zip Code)







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




















<PAGE>



ITEM 5. OTHER ITEMS

DETROIT (Reuters) - Standard & Poor's lowered its debt rating outlook on General
Motors Corporation to negative from stable on Wednesday, questioning how GM will
fund its multibillion-dollar pension and health care liabilities.

The credit rating agency also warned that GM's rating of "BBB" - its second
lowest investment grade - was under constant review and could be downgraded
without notice should GM's financial performance stumble.




                                      # # #


                                    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    April 10, 2003
        --------------
                                            By
                                            /s/Peter R. Bible
                                            --------------------------
                                            (Peter R. Bible,
                                             Chief Accounting Officer)
[{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "filename": "sandpdowngrade041003.txt", "description": "S AND P DOWNGRADE OF GM ON APRIL 9, 2003", "secsgml_size_bytes": 2599}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "GENERAL MOTORS CORP", "cik": "0000040730", "assigned-sic": "3711", "irs-number": "380572515", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-00143", "film-number": "03644863"}, "business-address": {"street1": "300 RENAISSANCE CTR", "street2": "MAIL CODE: 482-C34-D71", "city": "DETROIT", "state": "MI", "zip": "48265-3000", "phone": "3135565000"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "300 RENAISSANCE CTR", "street2": "MAIL CODE: 482-C34-D71", "city": "DETROIT", "state": "MI", "zip": "48265-3000"}}
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                           Washington, D.C. 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) April 9, 2003
                                  -------------

                           GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION
              -----------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

      STATE OF DELAWARE                 1-143                 38-0572515
----------------------------   -----------------------    -------------------
(State or other jurisdiction   (Commission File Number)   (I.R.S. Employer
 of incorporation)                                        Identification No.)

  300 Renaissance Center, Detroit, Michigan                  48265-3000
--------------------------------------------                 ----------
  (Address of principal executive offices)                   (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code       (313)-556-5000
                                                         --------------
ITEM 5. OTHER ITEMS

DETROIT (Reuters) - Standard & Poor's lowered its debt rating outlook on General
Motors Corporation to negative from stable on Wednesday, questioning how GM will
fund its multibillion-dollar pension and health care liabilities.

The credit rating agency also warned that GM's rating of "BBB" - its second
lowest investment grade - was under constant review and could be downgraded
without notice should GM's financial performance stumble.

                                      # # #

                                    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    April 10, 2003
        --------------
                                            By
                                            /s/Peter R. Bible
                                            --------------------------
                                            (Peter R. Bible,
                                             Chief Accounting Officer)