v2.4.0.6

Goodwill Goodwill Rollforward (Tables) | 3 Months Ended
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Mar. 31, 2012
Goodwill [Abstract] |
Schedule of Goodwill [Table Text Block] | The following tables summarize the changes in the carrying amounts of Goodwill (dollars in millions):
| GMNA |  | GME |  | GMIO |  | GMSA |  | Total Automotive |  | GM Financial |  | Total
Balance at January 1, 2012 | $ | 26,399 |  |  | $ | 581 |  |  | $ | 610 |  |  | $ | 151 |  |  | $ | 27,741 |  |  | $ | 1,278 |  |  | $ | 29,019 |
Impairment charges | — |  |  | (590 | ) |  | (27 | ) |  | — |  |  | (617 | ) |  | — |  |  | (617 | )
Effect of foreign currency translation and other | 1 |  |  | 9 |  |  | 15 |  |  | 6 |  |  | 31 |  |  | — |  |  | 31 |
Balance at March 31, 2012 | $ | 26,400 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 598 |  |  | $ | 157 |  |  | $ | 27,155 |  |  | $ | 1,278 |  |  | $ | 28,433 |
Accumulated impairment charges at December 31, 2011 | $ | — |  |  | $ | (2,482 | ) |  | $ | (270 | ) |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | (2,752 | ) |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | (2,752 | )
Accumulated impairment charges at March 31, 2012 | $ | — |  |  | $ | (3,072 | ) |  | $ | (297 | ) |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | (3,369 | ) |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | (3,369 | )
Goodwill balances and key assumptions utilized for each of our reporting units that required a Step 2 analysis [Table Text Block] |
|  |  |  |  |  |  | Industry Sales(a)(b) |  | Market Share(a)(b)
| Goodwill(c) |  | WACC |  | Long-Term Growth Rates |  | 2011/2012 |  | 2015/2016 |  | 2011/2012 |  | 2015/2016
GME - At January 1, 2011 | $ | 3,053 |  |  | 17.0 | % |  | 0.5 | % |  | 18.4 |  | 22.0 |  | 6.6 | % |  | 7.4 | %
GME - At March 31, 2011 | $ | 1,661 |  |  | 16.5 | % |  | 0.5 | % |  | 18.4 |  | 22.0 |  | 6.6 | % |  | 7.4 | %
GME - At March 31, 2012 | $ | 594 |  |  | 17.5 | % |  | 0.5 | % |  | 19.1 |  | 21.9 |  | 6.2 | % |  | 6.3 | %
GM Korea - At March 31, 2012 | $ | 564 |  |  | 14.8 | % |  | 3.0 | % |  | 81.0 |  | 97.1 |  | 1.4 | % |  | 1.1 | %
_________
(a) | Industry sales and market share for GM Korea are based on global industry volumes because GM Korea exports vehicles globally.
(b) |
Asset Impairment Charges [Text Block] | The following tables summarize the Goodwill impairment charges recorded in the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 (dollars in millions):
| Three Months Ended March 31, 2012
| GMNA |  | GME |  | GMIO |  | GMSA |  | Total Automotive |  | GM Financial |  | Total
Impairment charges | $ | — |  |  | $ | 590 |  |  | $ | 27 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 617 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 617 |
| Three Months Ended March 31, 2011
| GMNA |  | GME |  | GMIO |  | GMSA |  | Total Automotive |  | GM Financial |  | Total
Effect of Adoption of ASU 2010-28(a) | $ | — |  |  | $ | 1,466 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 1,466 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 1,466 |
Impairment charges | — |  |  | 395 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 395 |  |  | — |  |  | 395 |
Total impairment of goodwill | $ | — |  |  | $ | 1,861 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 1,861 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 1,861 |
_________
(a) | Impairment charges of $1.5 billion were recorded as a cumulative-effect adjustment to beginning Retained earnings upon the adoption of ASU 2010-28.

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- Definition Goodwill balances and key assumptions utilized for each of our reporting units that required a Step 2 analysis [Table Text Block] + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The entire disclosure for the details of the charge against earnings resulting from the aggregate write down of all assets from their carrying value to their fair value. Disclosure may also include a description of the impaired asset and facts and circumstances leading to the impairment, amount of the impairment loss and where the loss is located in the income statement, method(s) for determining fair value, and the segment in which the impaired asset is reported. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Tabular disclosure of goodwill by reportable segment and in total. Disclosure details may include, but are not limited to, the carrying amount of goodwill, goodwill acquired during the year, goodwill impairment losses recognized, goodwill written-off due to the sale of a business unit, goodwill not yet allocated, and any other changes to goodwill. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6905597&loc=d3e13854-109267 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6905597&loc=d3e13816-109267 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 142 -Paragraph 45 -Subparagraph c -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 142 -Paragraph 45 -Subparagraph e -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 142 -Paragraph 47 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. + Details
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