v3.10.0.1
Segment Reporting Summary of key financial information by segment (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2018
Sep. 30, 2018
Jun. 30, 2018
Mar. 31, 2018
Dec. 31, 2017
Sep. 30, 2017
Jun. 30, 2017
Mar. 31, 2017
Dec. 31, 2018
Dec. 31, 2017
Dec. 31, 2016
Revenue and others for Reportable Segment [Abstract]                      
Total net sales and revenue $ 38,399 $ 35,791 $ 36,760 $ 36,099 $ 37,715 $ 33,623 $ 36,984 $ 37,266 $ 147,049 $ 145,588 $ 149,184
Earnings (loss) before interest and taxes-adjusted                 11,783 12,844 12,848
Adjustments                 (2,905) (654) (300)
Automotive interest expense                 (3,880) (3,141) (2,535)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests                 (9) (18) (159)
Income before income taxes                 8,549 11,863 12,008
Income tax (expense)                 (474) (11,533) (2,739)
Income from continuing operations 2,069 2,530 2,366 1,110 (4,903) 114 2,433 2,686 8,075 330 9,269
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax 0 0 0 (70) (277) (3,096) (770) (69) (70) (4,212) (1)
Net income (loss) attributable to stockholders 2,044 2,534 $ 2,390 $ 1,046 (5,151) $ (2,981) $ 1,660 $ 2,608 8,014 (3,864) 9,427
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates 9,215       9,073       9,215 9,073 8,996
Goodwill and intangible assets, net 5,579       5,849       5,579 5,849 6,149
Total Assets 227,339       212,482       227,339 212,482 221,690
Expenditures for property                 8,761 8,453 8,384
Depreciation and amortization                 13,142 11,967 9,686
Impairment charges                 527 294 133
Equity income                 2,163 2,132 2,282
Transformation Activities [Member]                      
Revenue and others for Reportable Segment [Abstract]                      
Restructuring charges and other charges 1,300                    
Ignition Switch Recall Litigations [Member]                      
Revenue and others for Reportable Segment [Abstract]                      
Ignition switch related legal matters   $ 440                  
GMNA [Member] | Transformation Activities [Member]                      
Revenue and others for Reportable Segment [Abstract]                      
Restructuring charges and other charges                 1,200    
GMI [Member] | Separation Programs In Korea and Other Countries [Member]                      
Revenue and others for Reportable Segment [Abstract]                      
Restructuring charges and other charges                 1,200    
GMI [Member] | Separation Programs In South Africa And India [Member]                      
Revenue and others for Reportable Segment [Abstract]                      
Restructuring charges and other charges                   460  
GMI [Member] | Separation Programs In Venezuela [Member]                      
Revenue and others for Reportable Segment [Abstract]                      
Deconsolidation loss                   80  
Operating Segments [Member] | GM Cruise Segment [Member]                      
Revenue and others for Reportable Segment [Abstract]                      
Total net sales and revenue                 0 0 0
Earnings (loss) before interest and taxes-adjusted                 (728) (613) (171)
Adjustments                 0 0 0
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates 0       0       0 0 0
Goodwill and intangible assets, net 671       679       671 679 620
Total Assets 3,195       666       3,195 666 548
Expenditures for property                 15 34 4
Depreciation and amortization                 7 1 1
Impairment charges                 0 0 0
Equity income                 0 0 0
Operating Segments [Member] | GM Financial [Member]                      
Revenue and others for Reportable Segment [Abstract]                      
Total net sales and revenue                 14,016 12,151 8,983
Earnings (loss) before interest and taxes-adjusted                 1,893 1,196 763
Adjustments                 0 0 0
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates 1,355       1,187       1,355 1,187 944
Goodwill and intangible assets, net 1,356       1,367       1,356 1,367 1,366
Total Assets 109,953       97,251       109,953 97,251 87,947
Expenditures for property                 60 94 93
Depreciation and amortization                 7,531 6,573 4,678
Impairment charges                 0 0 0
Equity income                 183 173 152
Eliminations [Member]                      
Revenue and others for Reportable Segment [Abstract]                      
Total net sales and revenue                 (110) (170) (4)
Earnings (loss) before interest and taxes-adjusted                 (4) (7) 3
Adjustments                 0 0 0
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates 0       0       0 0 0
Goodwill and intangible assets, net 0       0       0 0 0
Total Assets (1,487)       (844)       (1,487) (844) (1,312)
Expenditures for property                 0 0 0
Depreciation and amortization                 0 0 0
Impairment charges                 0 0 0
Equity income                 0 0 0
Automotive [Member]                      
Revenue and others for Reportable Segment [Abstract]                      
Automotive interest income                 335 266 182
Automotive interest expense                 (655) (575) (563)
Automotive [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]                      
Revenue and others for Reportable Segment [Abstract]                      
Total net sales and revenue                 133,143 133,607 140,205
Earnings (loss) before interest and taxes-adjusted                 10,622 12,268 12,253
Adjustments                 (2,905) (654) (300)
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates 7,860       7,886       7,860 7,886 8,052
Goodwill and intangible assets, net 3,552       3,803       3,552 3,803 4,163
Total Assets 115,678       115,409       115,678 115,409 134,507
Expenditures for property                 8,686 8,325 8,287
Depreciation and amortization                 5,604 5,393 5,007
Impairment charges                 527 294 133
Equity income                 1,980 1,959 2,130
Automotive [Member] | Operating Segments [Member] | GMNA [Member]                      
Revenue and others for Reportable Segment [Abstract]                      
Total net sales and revenue                 113,792 111,345 119,113
Earnings (loss) before interest and taxes-adjusted                 10,769 11,889 12,388
Adjustments                 (1,236) 0 0
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates 75       68       75 68 74
Goodwill and intangible assets, net 2,623       2,819       2,623 2,819 3,128
Total Assets 109,763       99,874       109,763 99,874 103,908
Expenditures for property                 7,784 7,704 7,338
Depreciation and amortization                 4,995 4,654 4,292
Impairment charges                 55 78 65
Equity income                 8 8 159
Automotive [Member] | Operating Segments [Member] | GMI [Member]                      
Revenue and others for Reportable Segment [Abstract]                      
Total net sales and revenue                 19,148 21,920 20,943
Earnings (loss) before interest and taxes-adjusted                 423 1,300 767
Adjustments                 (1,212) (540) 0
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates 7,761       7,818       7,761 7,818 7,978
Goodwill and intangible assets, net 928       973       928 973 1,021
Total Assets 24,911       27,712       24,911 27,712 27,273
Expenditures for property                 883 607 943
Depreciation and amortization                 562 708 702
Impairment charges                 466 211 68
Equity income                 1,972 1,951 1,971
Automotive [Member] | Corporate [Member]                      
Revenue and others for Reportable Segment [Abstract]                      
Total net sales and revenue                 203 342 149
Earnings (loss) before interest and taxes-adjusted                 (570) (921) (902)
Adjustments                 (457) (114) (300)
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates 24       0       24 0 0
Goodwill and intangible assets, net 1       11       1 11 14
Total Assets 31,694       30,573       31,694 30,573 38,465
Expenditures for property                 21 14 8
Depreciation and amortization                 50 32 18
Impairment charges                 6 5 0
Equity income                 0 0 0
Automotive [Member] | Corporate [Member] | Ignition Switch Recall Litigations [Member]                      
Revenue and others for Reportable Segment [Abstract]                      
Ignition switch related legal matters                 440 114 300
Automotive [Member] | Eliminations [Member]                      
Revenue and others for Reportable Segment [Abstract]                      
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates 0       0       0 0 0
Goodwill and intangible assets, net 0       0       0 0 0
Total Assets $ (50,690)       $ (42,750)       (50,690) (42,750) (35,139)
Expenditures for property                 (2) 0 (2)
Depreciation and amortization                 (3) (1) (5)
Impairment charges                 0 0 0
Equity income                 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0