<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-11-19</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000040987</issuerCik><issuerName>GENUINE PARTS CO</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>GPC</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001221096</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>JOHNS MICHAEL M E</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>GENUINE PARTS COMPANY</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>2999 CIRCLE 75 PKWY</rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>ATLANTA</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>GA</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>30339</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Phantom Shares</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-11-19</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>71.0000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>30.9100</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F2" /></exerciseDate><expirationDate><footnoteId id="F2" /></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>71.0000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>4399.0000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Security converts to Common Stock on a one for one basis.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Exercisable and expiration date is equal to effective retirement date.</footnote></footnotes><remarks></remarks><ownerSignature><signatureName>Carol Yancey Attorney in Fact</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-11-20</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

