GM solidly trounced analysts’ expectations and delivered $3.2 billion if Q1 2011 net income.  The consensus of a Bloomberg panel was $1.74 billion. Compared with the first quarter of 2010, revenue increased $4.7 billion to $36.2 billion, says GM press release. GM’s first-quarter profit more than tripled to its highest in at least 21 years. (Read More…)

Didn’t they say that you have to be a monster car company with at least 5 million units, just to survive? BMW did not get the memo. Aiming for sales of just 1.5 million units this year, BMW delivered a first quarter 2011 net profit before tax of €1.812 billion ($2.691 billion), surprising analysts that had expected something in the neighborhood of $2 billion. (Read More…)

Ford beat expectations with a first quarter 2011 net income of $2.6 billion, an increase of $466 million from the first quarter 2010. First quarter 2011 pre-tax operating profit was $2.8 billion. Ford Credit contributed $713 million to the pre-tax operating profit. (Read More…)