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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| GM to start loan repayments early | GM to start loan repayments early |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| The US carmaker General Motors (GM) has said it will start paying back its government loans earlier than expected. | The US carmaker General Motors (GM) has said it will start paying back its government loans earlier than expected. |
| It will make its first payment of $1.2bn (£717m) to the US government in December. GM had not been required to begin repaying the loan until 2015. | |
| The news came as it reported a loss of $1.2bn from 10 July, when it emerged from bankruptcy, to 30 September. | The news came as it reported a loss of $1.2bn from 10 July, when it emerged from bankruptcy, to 30 September. |
| GM chief Fritz Henderson said the firm still had work to do but the results were evidence of a "solid foundation". | GM chief Fritz Henderson said the firm still had work to do but the results were evidence of a "solid foundation". |
| He pointed out that GM had a healthier balance sheet with lower debt levels. | He pointed out that GM had a healthier balance sheet with lower debt levels. |
| GM owes the US government $6.7bn and the Canadian government $1.4bn. Canada will also receive its first payment in December. | GM owes the US government $6.7bn and the Canadian government $1.4bn. Canada will also receive its first payment in December. |
| In addition Germany will be repaid the outstanding 400m euros (£358m) that it lent in support of GM's European business Opel. | In addition Germany will be repaid the outstanding 400m euros (£358m) that it lent in support of GM's European business Opel. |
| GM changed its mind over the sale of Opel earlier this month. | GM changed its mind over the sale of Opel earlier this month. |
| It had been planning to sell it to a group led by the Canadian car parts maker Magna but decided instead to keep it as market conditions were picking up. | It had been planning to sell it to a group led by the Canadian car parts maker Magna but decided instead to keep it as market conditions were picking up. |
| Sales in the US were boosted by the government-sponsored "cash for clunkers" incentive scheme. | Sales in the US were boosted by the government-sponsored "cash for clunkers" incentive scheme. |
| GM said the market in China was proving to be a particularly strong contributor to its results. | GM said the market in China was proving to be a particularly strong contributor to its results. |