The long-standing battle between Detroit automakers General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co. has benefited local and national United Way campaigns.

With $35.2 million in donations, GM is the largest contributor to the recently completed national 1998 United Way campaign, the automaker reports.

GM's contribution includes $30.7 million from employees and a $4.5 million pledge from the General Motors Foundation. This total is 2.5 percent above the company's 1997 United Way donation.

Ford, meanwhile, made the largest donation to a single United Way office during the 1998 campaign, with $15.1 million going to the United Way Community Services campaign in Southeastern Michigan serving the Detroit area, the company reports.

The Ford gift was made up of $12.98 million from Ford employees and dealers and $2.09 million from the company.

GM contributed over $9.3 million to the Southeastern Michigan United Way chapter, with the remainder given to United Way offices in areas of the country where GM has operations.