<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>

<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM HUGHES
ELECTRONICS CORPORATION DECEMBER 31, 1997, 1998 and 1999 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO 1999 FORM 10-K.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000944868
<NAME> HUGHES ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000,000
<CURRENCY> U. S. DOLLARS

<S>                             <C>                     <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS                   12-MOS                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1998             DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997             JAN-01-1998             JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1998             DEC-31-1999
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1                       1                       1
<CASH>                                               0                       0                     111
<SECURITIES>                                     2,784                   1,342                     127
<RECEIVABLES>                                      535                     788                   1,054
<ALLOWANCES>                                        15                      24                      93
<INVENTORY>                                        498                     466                     392
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                 5,179                   4,075                   3,858
<PP&E>                                           4,157                   4,869                   6,516
<DEPRECIATION>                                   (953)                   (988)                 (1,385)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  12,142                  12,617                  18,597
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                            1,007                   1,346                   2,642
<BONDS>                                            638                     779                   1,586
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0                   1,488
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0                       0
<COMMON>                                             0                       0                       0
<OTHER-SE>                                       8,340                   8,412                  10,193
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    12,142                  12,617                  18,597
<SALES>                                            854                     840                   1,010
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                 2,838                   3,481                   5,560
<CGS>                                              538                     607                     955
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                    1,451                   1,818                   3,030
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                 1,344                   1,709                   2,959
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                    19                      39                     123
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                  91                      18                     123
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                    374                   (103)                   (660)
<INCOME-TAX>                                       162                   (142)                   (237)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                237                      64                   (391)
<DISCONTINUED>                                     233                     196                     100
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                   (21)                       0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                     (9)                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                       450                     251                   (291)
<EPS-BASIC>                                          0                       0                       0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0                       0                       0


</TABLE>