v3.20.2
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail)
 3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2020
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2019
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2020
USD ($)
Customer
Sep. 30, 2019
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2019
USD ($)
Customer
Jan. 01, 2020
USD ($)
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]            
Deferred revenue $ 1,730,000,000   $ 1,730,000,000   $ 1,470,000,000  
Deferred revenue recognized out of prior period balance     223,000,000 $ 177,000,000    
Deferred revenue recognized in next 12 months     969,000,000      
Total sales return reserve from buyback options 682,000,000   682,000,000   639,000,000  
Sales return reserve from short term buyback options 163,000,000   163,000,000   93,000,000  
Reduction in automotive sales revenues from buyback options 12,000,000   72,000,000      
Reduction in automotive cost of sales from buyback options 5,000,000   42,000,000      
Reduction in gross profit from buyback options 7,000,000   30,000,000      
Deferred revenue 1,258,000,000   1,258,000,000   1,163,000,000  
Deferred revenue recognized     140,000,000      
Maximum repurchase price of vehicles under resale value arrangement 56,000,000   56,000,000   214,000,000  
Resale value exercisable by leasing partners 19,000,000   19,000,000      
Leasing revenue recognized 265,000,000 $ 221,000,000 772,000,000 644,000,000    
Resale value guarantees, lease revenue recognized 102,000,000 32,000,000 1,000,000 117,000,000    
Unrecognized tax benefits 264,000,000   264,000,000   273,000,000  
Unrecognized tax benefits, that would not affect effective tax rate 239,000,000   239,000,000   247,000,000  
Increase in net loss attributable to common stockholders 31,000,000 0 $ 31,000,000 8,000,000    
Number of years for loans payable     30 years      
Allowance for credit losses 45,000,000   $ 45,000,000      
MyPower customer notes receivable, net of allowance for credit losses 342,000,000   342,000,000   402,000,000  
MyPower customer notes receivable, net of allowance for credit losses, current 9,000,000   9,000,000   $ 9,000,000  
Past due notes receivable 0   0      
Non-accrual 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 3,170,000,000   $ 3,170,000,000   $ 2,850,000,000  
Net accumulated depreciation related to leased vehicles $ 425,000,000   $ 425,000,000   $ 406,000,000  
Accounting Standards Update 2016-13 [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 false   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   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   true      
Cumulative Effect Period Of Adoption Adjustment [Member] | Accounting Standards Update 2016-13 [Member]            
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]            
Allowance for credit losses           $ 37,000,000
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 $ 189,000,000   $ 189,000,000   $ 156,000,000  
Deferred revenue recognized in next 12 months     5,000,000      
Deferred revenue recognized     31,000,000 27,000,000    
Unbilled transaction price allocated to performance obligations, expected of more than one year 95,000,000   $ 95,000,000      
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     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 13,000,000   $ 13,000,000   29,000,000  
Resale value guarantee 56,000,000   56,000,000   238,000,000  
Leasing revenue recognized 18,000,000 $ 43,000,000 70,000,000 $ 146,000,000    
Net carrying amount of operating lease vehicles 54,000,000   54,000,000   190,000,000  
Automotive Regulatory Credits [Member]            
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]            
Deferred revenue $ 0   $ 0   $ 140,000,000