General Motors said on Monday that its finances had improved to the point that it could begin repaying its government loans, though it lost nearly $1.15 billion in the third quarter after emerging from bankruptcy in July. G.M. said it increased its cash reserves by $3.3 billion from July 10 to Sept. 30, ending the quarter with $42.6 billion on hand. It plans to make a $1 billion payment to the federal government in December, more than five years before the loans are due, and to make similar quarterly payments after that.
G.M.’s chief executive, Fritz Henderson, said the automaker’s performance showed “some signs of progress and some signs of stability” and a “good, strong liquidity position. Speaking at a news conference at G.M.’s headquarters, Mr. Henderson said the loss was much lower than what it has been and certainly better than our plan going into bankruptcy, but nonetheless, it’s a loss and you can’t be satisfied with it. For the entire third quarter, including the final 10 days of G.M.’s bankruptcy, the company said its revenue was $28 billion, up 21 percent from the second quarter.
