FACTBOX: Key facts about General Motors and Chrysler

(Reuters) - General Motors Corp and Chrysler LLC have been in preliminary talks about a merger, according to a source briefed on the matter.

A merger would unite GM, the No. 1 U.S.-based automaker, with No. 3 Chrysler, both struggling amid a 15-year low in U.S. auto industry sales and market share losses that have left them with far too much production capacity in North America.

A combination of GM, whose stock fell to a nearly 60-year low of $4 last week, and Chrysler -- now about 80 percent-owned by private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management -- would create a company with too many factories, dealers, vehicle models and very similar product lines, according to analysts.

As a result, such a merger would lead to massive job losses, plant closings and elimination of brands and vehicle lines, analysts said.

GM and Chrysler both have extensive pickup truck and SUV lineups in North America and are in the midst of multiyear restructuring, which includes cost cuts and asset sales to raise cash.

Following are some key facts about GM and Chrysler.

General Motors

* Headquarters: Detroit

* Financials: GM has posted losses of $18.7 billion through the first half of 2008 and announced plans to increase liquidity by $15 billion through 2009 with $10 billion of cost cuts and $5 billion of asset sales and borrowing. GM ended the second quarter with $21 billion of cash and $5 billion of undrawn credit.

* Employees: About 266,000 worldwide at the end of 2007, including 139,000 in North America.

* Facilities: Over 160 worldwide.

* Brands: Chevrolet, Pontiac, Saturn, Buick, Cadillac, Hummer, Saab, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, Opel, Vauxhall and Wuling.

* 2008 sales: U.S. sales were down 17.6 percent through September. Through June, global sales were down 2.9 percent at 4.54 million vehicles. GM updates global sales figures later in October.

* Key products and U.S. sales through the end of September

- Chevy Cobalt compact car: 162,462 units, up 6.3 percent

- Chevy Malibu mid-size car: 140,555 units, up 37 percent