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Commitments and Contingencies (Notes) | 3 Months Ended
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Mar. 31, 2012
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] |
Commitments And Contingencies | Commitments and Contingencies The following tables summarize information related to commitments and contingencies (dollars in millions):
| March 31, 2012 |  | December 31, 2011
| Liability Recorded |  | Maximum Liability(a) |  | Liability Recorded |  | Maximum Liability(a)
Guarantees(b) |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Operating leases | $ | — |  |  | $ | 9 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 26 |
Ally Financial commercial loans | $ | — |  |  | $ | 28 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 24 |
Third party commercial loans and other obligations | $ | 8 |  |  | $ | 279 |  |  | $ | 7 |  |  | $ | 210 |
Other product-related claims | $ | 54 |  |  | $ | 773 |  |  | $ | 53 |  |  | $ | 838 |
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(a) | Calculated as future undiscounted payments.
(b) | Excludes residual support and risk sharing programs and vehicle repurchase obligations related to Ally Financial.
| March 31, 2012 |  | December 31, 2011
| Liability Recorded |  | Liability Recorded
Environmental liability(a) | $ | 171 |  |  | $ | 169 |
Product liability | $ | 547 |  |  | $ | 514 |
Other litigation-related liability and tax administrative matters(b) | $ | 1,274 |  |  | $ | 1,196 |
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(a) | Includes $32 million and $34 million recorded in Accrued liabilities at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 and the remainder was recorded in Other liabilities and deferred income taxes.
(b) | Consists primarily of indirect tax-related litigation as well as various non-U.S. labor related matters.
Guarantees We have provided guarantees related to the residual value of certain operating leases. These guarantees terminate in years ranging from 2016 to 2035. Certain leases contain renewal options. We provide payment guarantees on commercial loans made by Ally Financial and outstanding with certain third parties, such as dealers or rental car companies. These guarantees either expire in 2012 through 2029 or are ongoing. We determined the fair value ascribed to the guarantees at inception and subsequent to inception to be insignificant based on the credit worthiness of the third parties. Refer to Note 22 for additional information on guarantees that we provide to Ally Financial. We have agreements with third parties that guarantee the fulfillment of certain suppliers' commitments and other obligations. These guarantees expire in 2012 through 2016 or are ongoing, or upon the occurrence of specific events. In some instances, certain assets of the party whose debt or performance we have guaranteed may offset, to some degree, the cost of the guarantee. The offset of certain of our payables to guaranteed parties may also offset certain guarantees, if triggered. At March 31, 2012 any proceeds we would receive from collateral were insignificant. In connection with certain divestitures of assets or operating businesses, we have entered into agreements indemnifying certain buyers and other parties with respect to environmental conditions pertaining to real property we owned. We periodically enter into agreements that incorporate indemnification provisions in the normal course of business. It is not possible to estimate our maximum exposure under these indemnifications or guarantees due to the conditional nature of these obligations. Immaterial amounts have been recorded for such obligations as the majority of them are not probable or estimable at this time, and the fair value of the guarantees at issuance was insignificant. In addition to the guarantees and indemnifying agreements previously discussed, we indemnify dealers for certain product liability related claims as subsequently discussed. With respect to other product-related claims involving products manufactured by certain joint ventures, we believe that costs incurred are adequately covered by recorded accruals. These guarantees terminate in years ranging from 2020 to 2026. Environmental Liability Automotive operations, like operations of other companies engaged in similar businesses, are subject to a wide range of environmental protection laws, including laws regulating air emissions, water discharges, waste management and environmental remediation. We are in various stages of investigation or remediation for sites where contamination has been alleged. We are involved in a number of actions to remediate hazardous wastes as required by federal and state laws. Such statutes require that responsible parties fund remediation actions regardless of fault, legality of original disposal or ownership of a disposal site. The future effect of environmental matters, including potential liabilities, is often difficult to estimate. An environmental reserve is recorded when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the liability can be reasonably estimated. This practice is followed whether the claims are asserted or unasserted. Recorded liabilities are not reduced for possible recoveries from insurance carriers or other parties. Liabilities have been recorded for the expected costs to be paid over the periods of remediation for the applicable sites, which typically range from five to 30 years. For many sites, the remediation costs and other damages for which we ultimately may be responsible may vary because of uncertainties with respect to factors such as the connection to the site or to materials there, the involvement of other potentially responsible parties, the application of laws and other standards or regulations, site conditions and the nature and scope of investigations, studies and remediation to be undertaken (including the technologies to be required and the extent, duration and success of remediation). The final outcome of environmental matters cannot be predicted with certainty at this time. Subsequent adjustments to initial estimates are recorded as necessary based upon additional information obtained. In future periods, new laws or regulations, advances in remediation technologies and additional information about the ultimate remediation methodology to be used could significantly change our estimates. It is possible that the resolution of one or more environmental matters could exceed the amounts accrued in an amount that could be material to our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. At March 31, 2012 we estimate the remediation losses could range from $140 million to $330 million. Product Liability With respect to product liability claims involving our and Old GM's products, we believe that any judgment against us for actual damages will be adequately covered by our recorded accruals and, where applicable, excess liability insurance coverage. Although punitive damages are claimed in some of these lawsuits, and such claims are inherently unpredictable, accruals incorporate historic experience with these types of claims. Liabilities have been recorded for the expected cost of all known product liability claims plus an estimate of the expected cost for product liability claims that have already been incurred and are expected to be filed in the future for which we are self-insured. These amounts were recorded in Accrued liabilities. We indemnify dealers for certain product liability related claims including products sold by Old GM. We monitor actual claims experience and make periodic adjustments to our estimates. Based on management's judgment concerning the projected number and value of both dealer indemnification obligations and product liability claims, we have applied actuarial methodologies and estimated the liability. We expect our product liability reserve to rise in future periods as new claims arise from incidents subsequent to July 9, 2009. Other Litigation-Related Liability and Tax Administrative Matters Various legal actions, governmental investigations, claims and proceedings are pending against us including matters arising out of alleged product defects; employment-related matters; governmental regulations relating to safety, emissions, and fuel economy; product warranties; financial services; dealer, supplier and other contractual relationships; tax-related matters not recorded pursuant to ASC 740, "Income Taxes" (indirect tax-related matters) and environmental matters. With regard to the litigation matters discussed in the previous paragraph, reserves have been established for matters in which we believe that losses are probable and can be reasonably estimated, the majority of which are associated with indirect tax-related matters as well as various non-U.S. labor-related matters. Indirect tax-related matters are being litigated globally pertaining to value added taxes, customs, duties, sales, property taxes and other non-income tax related tax exposures. The various non-U.S. labor-related matters include claims from current and former employees related to alleged unpaid wage, benefit, severance, and other compensation matters. Certain South American administrative proceedings are indirect tax-related and may require that we deposit funds in escrow. Escrow deposits may range from $556 million to $772 million. Some of the matters may involve compensatory, punitive, or other treble damage claims, environmental remediation programs, or sanctions, that if granted, could require us to pay damages or make other expenditures in amounts that could not be reasonably estimated at March 31, 2012. We believe that appropriate accruals have been established for such matters based on information currently available. Reserves for litigation losses are recorded in Accrued liabilities and Other liabilities and deferred income taxes. Litigation is inherently unpredictable, however, and unfavorable resolutions could occur. Accordingly, it is possible that an adverse outcome from such proceedings could exceed the amounts accrued in an amount that could be material to our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows in any particular reporting period. Commencing on or about September 29, 2010, current and former hourly employees of GM Korea filed six separate group actions in the Incheon District Court in Incheon, Korea. The cases allege that GM Korea failed to include certain allowances in its calculation of Ordinary Wages due under the Presidential Decree of the Korean Labor Standards Act. Although GM Korea intends to vigorously defend the claims asserted, at March 31, 2012 we have an accrual of 166 billion Korean Won (equivalent to $146 million) in connection with these cases. The current estimate of the value of plaintiffs' claims, if allowed in full, exceeds the accrual by 607 billion Korean Won (equivalent to $533 million) which represents the reasonably possible liability exposure. Both the scope of claims asserted and GM Korea's assessment of any or all of individual claim elements may change if new information becomes available. On February 12, 2010 a claim was filed in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice against General Motors of Canada Limited (GMCL) on behalf of a purported class of over 200 former GMCL dealers (the Plaintiff Dealers) which had entered into wind-down agreements with GMCL. In May 2009, in the context of the global restructuring of the business and the possibility that GMCL might be required to initiate insolvency proceedings, GMCL offered the Plaintiff Dealers the wind-down agreements to assist with their exit from the GMCL dealer network and to facilitate winding down their operations in an orderly fashion by December 31, 2009 or such other date as GMCL approved but no later than on October 31, 2010. The Plaintiff Dealers allege that the Dealer Sales and Service Agreements were wrongly terminated by GMCL and that GMCL failed to comply with certain disclosure obligations, breached its statutory duty of fair dealing and unlawfully interfered with the Plaintiff Dealers' statutory right to associate in an attempt to coerce the Plaintiff Dealers into accepting the wind-down agreements. The Plaintiff Dealers seek damages and assert that the wind-down agreements are rescindable. The Plaintiff Dealers' initial pleading makes reference to a claim “not exceeding” CAD $750 million, without explanation of any specific measure of damages. On March 1, 2011 the court approved certification of a class for the purpose of deciding a number of specifically defined issues, including: (1) whether GMCL breached its obligation of "good faith" in offering the wind-down agreements; (2) whether GMCL interfered with the Plaintiff Dealers' rights of free association; (3) whether GMCL was obligated to provide a disclosure statement and/or disclose more specific information regarding its restructuring plans in connection with proffering the wind-down agreements; and (4) assuming liability, whether the Plaintiff Dealers can recover damages in the aggregate (as opposed to proving individual damages). On June 22, 2011 the court granted GMCL permission to appeal the class certification decision. On March 26, 2012 the Ontario Superior Court dismissed GMCL's appeal of the class certification order. Accordingly the case will proceed as a class action. The current prospects for liability are uncertain, but because liability is not deemed probable, we have no accrual relating to this litigation. We cannot estimate the range of reasonably possible loss in the event of liability, as the case presents a variety of different legal theories, none of which GMCL believes are valid. On April 6, 2010 the International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agriculture Implement Workers of America (UAW) filed suit against us in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan claiming that we breached an obligation to contribute $450 million to the UAW Retiree Medical Benefits Trust (New VEBA). The UAW alleges that we were contractually required to make this contribution. The reasonably possible loss as defined by ASC 450 “Contingencies” is $450 million, which is the amount claimed, but we believe that the claim is without merit and we have no accrual relating to this litigation. We filed a motion in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York (Bankruptcy Court) asserting that the UAW's claim is barred by the Bankruptcy Court approved 2009 UAW Retiree Settlement Agreement and by other orders issued by the Bankruptcy Court that preclude additional GM contributions to the New VEBA. We also maintain that Delphi Corporation's bankruptcy plan of reorganization did not fulfill the applicable conditions of the relevant agreement and therefore payment would not be due even in the absence of the 2009 UAW Retiree Settlement Agreement. On August 23, 2011, the Bankruptcy Court issued an opinion abstaining from hearing the case, which will accordingly be litigated in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. Liability Related to Contingently Issuable Shares Under the Amended and Restated Master Sale and Purchase Agreement, as amended between us and Old GM and certain of its direct and indirect subsidiaries, we were obligated to issue additional shares of our common stock to MLC (Adjustment Shares) in the event that allowed general unsecured claims against MLC, as estimated by the Bankruptcy Court, exceed $35.0 billion. Following the dissolution of MLC on December 15, 2011, any Adjustment Shares we are obligated to issue will be issuable to the GUC Trust. The maximum number of Adjustment Shares issuable is 30 million shares (subject to adjustment to take into account stock dividends, stock splits and other transactions). The number of Adjustment Shares to be issued is calculated based on the extent to which estimated general unsecured claims exceed $35.0 billion with the maximum number of Adjustment Shares issued if estimated general unsecured claims total $42.0 billion or more. At March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 we concluded it was not probable that general unsecured claims would exceed $35.0 billion. We believe it is reasonably possible that general unsecured claims allowed against MLC will range between $32.5 billion and $36.0 billion. GME Planned Spending Guarantee As part of our Opel/Vauxhall restructuring plan agreed to with European labor representatives, we have committed to achieving specified milestones associated with planned spending from 2011 to 2014 on certain product programs. If we fail to accomplish the requirements set out under the agreement, we will be required to pay certain amounts up to Euro 265 million for each of those years, and/or interest on those amounts, to our employees. Certain inventory with a carrying amount of $215 million and $209 million at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 was pledged as collateral under the agreement. Through March 31, 2012 spending was sufficient to meet the current requirements under the agreement and the specified milestones have been accomplished. Management has the intent and believes it has the ability to meet the future requirements under the agreement.

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