General Motors profits more than double on record North America earnings

General Motors' first quarter profit more than doubled as all of its business units posted improved numbers including record pretax earnings in North America. After paying $60 million to settle stockholder lawsuits over an ignition switch debacle, GM earned $1.26 per share. GM nearly broke even in Europe for the quarter, made strong profits in China and narrowed its losses in challenging South America en route to record pretax profits of $2.7 billion for a first-quarter.