Financing - the only profit for GM in 2005

Not everyone knows, but General Motors actually makes money by selling auto insurance and offering mortgages. The company made $2.22 billion doing just that during 2005.

Meanwhile the GM lost $3.8 billion in the first three quarters of 2005 selling their vehicles, or on average - $539 for each of their auto being sold.

The Ford auto company had posted similar figures - it made $2 billion profit in financing while losing $1.4 billion in those first three quarters on their autos ($576 per vehicle sold).

Also, the two companies combined sold $38billion in consumer loans last year.