General Motors’ pre-tax profit jumped 37 percent to $3.1 billion in the third quarter, fueled by strong truck and SUV sales in North America and a solid performance in China, despite weakening demand in the world’s largest car market, MarketWatch.com reported yesterday. The results do not include $1.5 billion in one-time government fines and other costs to settle claims related to last year’s deadly ignition-switch recall. Overall net income fell 1.4 percent to $1.36 billion. In North America, GM posted an 11.8 percent operating margin in North America — its ninth straight quarter of improved profits.
