v3.20.2
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail)
 3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Jan. 01, 2020
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2020
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2019
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2020
USD ($)
Customer
Jun. 30, 2019
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2019
USD ($)
Customer
Mar. 31, 2020
USD ($)
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]              
Deferred revenue   $ 1,610,000,000   $ 1,610,000,000   $ 1,470,000,000  
Deferred revenue recognized out of prior period balance       149,000,000 $ 114,000,000    
Deferred revenue recognized in next 12 months       876,000,000      
Total sales return reserve from buyback options   650,000,000   650,000,000   639,000,000  
Sales return reserve from short term buyback options   124,000,000   124,000,000   93,000,000  
Reduction in automotive sales revenues from buyback options   60,000,000          
Reduction in automotive cost of sales from buyback options   37,000,000          
Reduction in gross profit from buyback options   23,000,000          
Deferred revenue recognized       140,000,000      
Maximum repurchase price of vehicles under resale value arrangement   98,000,000   98,000,000   214,000,000  
Resale value exercisable by leasing partners   61,000,000   61,000,000      
Leasing revenue recognized   268,000,000 $ 208,000,000 507,000,000 423,000,000    
Resale value guarantees, lease revenue recognized   66,000,000 37,000,000 101,000,000 85,000,000    
Unrecognized tax benefits   276,000,000   276,000,000   273,000,000  
Unrecognized tax benefits, that would not affect effective tax rate   250,000,000   250,000,000   247,000,000  
Increase in net loss attributable to common stockholders       $ 8,000,000      
Number of years for loans payable       30 years      
MyPower customer notes receivable, net of allowance for credit losses   351,000,000   $ 351,000,000   402,000,000  
MyPower customer notes receivable, net of allowance for credit losses, current   10,000,000   10,000,000   $ 9,000,000  
Allowance for credit losses             $ 45,000,000
Non-accrual notes receivable   0   0      
Past due notes receivable   0   $ 0      
Number of customers representing more than ten percentage of accounts receivable | Customer       1   0  
Accounts receivable from OEM customers excess percentage       10.00%   10.00%  
Gross cost of operating lease vehicles   2,930,000,000   $ 2,930,000,000   $ 2,850,000,000  
Net accumulated depreciation related to leased vehicles   $ 408,000,000   $ 408,000,000   $ 406,000,000  
Accounting Standards Update 2016-13 [Member]              
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]              
Increase to the allowance for credit losses $ 37,000,000            
Change in accounting principle, accounting standards update, adopted   true   true      
Change in accounting principle, accounting standards update, adoption date   Jan. 01, 2020   Jan. 01, 2020      
Change in accounting principle accounting standards update immaterial effect       false      
Accounting Standards Update 2017-04 [Member]              
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]              
Change in accounting principle, accounting standards update, adopted   true   true      
Change in accounting principle, accounting standards update, adoption date   Jan. 01, 2020   Jan. 01, 2020      
Change in accounting principle accounting standards update immaterial effect       true      
Accounting Standards Update 2018-15 [Member]              
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]              
Change in accounting principle, accounting standards update, adopted   true   true      
Change in accounting principle, accounting standards update, adoption date   Jan. 01, 2020   Jan. 01, 2020      
Change in accounting principle accounting standards update immaterial effect       true      
0.25% Convertible Senior Notes due in 2019 ("2019 Notes") [Member] | Recourse debt [Member]              
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]              
Interest Rate   0.25%   0.25%      
Maturity year       2019      
1.25% Convertible Senior Notes due in 2021 ("2021 Notes") [Member] | Recourse debt [Member]              
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]              
Interest Rate   1.25%   1.25%   1.25%  
Maturity year       2021      
2.375% Convertible Senior Notes due in 2022 [Member] | Recourse debt [Member]              
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]              
Interest Rate   2.375%   2.375%   2.375%  
Maturity year       2022      
2.00% Convertible Senior Notes due in 2024 [Member] | Recourse debt [Member]              
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]              
Interest Rate   2.00%   2.00%   2.00%  
Maturity year       2024      
5.50% Convertible Senior Notes due in 2022 [Member] | Recourse debt [Member]              
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]              
Interest Rate   5.50%   5.50%      
Maturity year       2022      
Customer payments [Member] | Energy Generation and Storage [Member]              
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]              
Deferred revenue   $ 172,000,000   $ 172,000,000   $ 156,000,000  
Deferred revenue recognized in next 12 months       5,000,000      
Deferred revenue recognized       28,000,000   22,000,000  
Unbilled transaction price allocated to performance obligations, expected of more than one year   105,000,000   $ 105,000,000      
Accrued Liabilities And Other [Member]              
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]              
Resale value guarantees, current portion sales to customers           115,000,000  
Vehicles [Member]              
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]              
Net carrying amount of operating lease vehicles           83,000,000  
Solar Energy Systems [Member]              
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]              
Product warranty description       we also provide a warranty on the installation and components of the energy generation and storage systems we sell for periods typically between 10 to 25 years.      
Sales To Leasing Companies With Guarantee [Member]              
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]              
Deferred revenue   16,000,000   $ 16,000,000   29,000,000  
Resale value guarantee   106,000,000   106,000,000   238,000,000  
Leasing revenue recognized   19,000,000 $ 50,000,000 52,000,000 $ 103,000,000    
Net carrying amount of operating lease vehicles   $ 88,000,000   88,000,000   190,000,000  
Automotive Regulatory Credits [Member]              
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]              
Deferred revenue recognized       $ 0   $ 140,000,000