v2.4.0.6

Goodwill Goodwill Rollforward (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 3 Months Ended |  |
--- | --- | --- | ---
Mar. 31, 2012 | Mar. 31, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2010
Goodwill [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Goodwill, beginning balance | $ 29,019 |  |  |
Effect of adoption of ASU 2010-28 |  | 1,466 |  |
Impairment charges | (617) | (395) |  |
Effect of foreign currency translation and other | 31 |  |  |
Goodwill, ending balance | 28,433 |  |  |
Accumulated impairment charges | (3,369) |  | (2,752) |
Effect of adoption of ASU 2010-28 |  | 1,466 |  |
Aggregrate goodwill impairment in the period |  | 1,861 |  |
Automotive [Member] |  |  |  |
Goodwill [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Goodwill, beginning balance | 27,741 |  |  |
Impairment charges | (617) | (395) |  |
Effect of foreign currency translation and other | 31 |  |  |
Goodwill, ending balance | 27,155 |  |  |
Accumulated impairment charges | (3,369) |  | (2,752) |
Effect of adoption of ASU 2010-28 |  | 1,466 |  |
Aggregrate goodwill impairment in the period |  | 1,861 |  |
Automotive [Member] | GMNA [Member] |  |  |  |
Goodwill [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Goodwill, beginning balance | 26,399 |  |  |
Impairment charges | 0 | 0 |  |
Effect of foreign currency translation and other | 1 |  |  |
Goodwill, ending balance | 26,400 |  |  |
Accumulated impairment charges | 0 |  | 0 |
Effect of adoption of ASU 2010-28 |  | 0 |  |
Aggregrate goodwill impairment in the period |  | 0 |  |
Automotive [Member] | GME [Member] |  |  |  |
Goodwill [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Goodwill, beginning balance | 581 |  |  |
Impairment charges | (590) | (395) |  |
Effect of foreign currency translation and other | 9 |  |  |
Goodwill, ending balance | 0 |  |  |
Accumulated impairment charges | (3,072) |  | (2,482) |
Effect of adoption of ASU 2010-28 |  | 1,466 |  |
Goodwill Before Impairment Charge | 594 | 1,661 |  | 3,053
Weighted-Average Cost of Capital | 17.50% | 16.50% |  | 17.00%
Long-Term Growth Rates | 0.50% | 0.50% |  | 0.50%
Aggregrate goodwill impairment in the period |  | 1,861 |  |
Automotive [Member] | GME [Member] | Years 2011 and 2012 [Member] |  |  |  |
Goodwill [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Industry Vehicle Sales (in units) | 19,100,000 | 18,400,000 |  | 18,400,000
Market Share | 6.20% | 6.60% |  | 6.60%
Automotive [Member] | GME [Member] | Years 2015 and 2016 [Member] |  |  |  |
Goodwill [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Industry Vehicle Sales (in units) | 21,900,000 | 22,000,000 |  | 22,000,000
Market Share | 6.30% | 7.40% |  | 7.40%
Automotive [Member] | GMIO [Member] |  |  |  |
Goodwill [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Goodwill, beginning balance | 610 |  |  |
Impairment charges | (27) | 0 |  |
Effect of foreign currency translation and other | 15 |  |  |
Goodwill, ending balance | 598 |  |  |
Accumulated impairment charges | (297) |  | (270) |
Effect of adoption of ASU 2010-28 |  | 0 |  |
Aggregrate goodwill impairment in the period |  | 0 |  |
Automotive [Member] | GMSA [Member] |  |  |  |
Goodwill [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Goodwill, beginning balance | 151 |  |  |
Impairment charges | 0 | 0 |  |
Effect of foreign currency translation and other | 6 |  |  |
Goodwill, ending balance | 157 |  |  |
Accumulated impairment charges | 0 |  | 0 |
Effect of adoption of ASU 2010-28 |  | 0 |  |
Aggregrate goodwill impairment in the period |  | 0 |  |
Automotive [Member] | GM Korea [Member] |  |  |  |
Goodwill [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Goodwill Before Impairment Charge | 564 |  |  |
Weighted-Average Cost of Capital | 14.80% |  |  |
Long-Term Growth Rates | 3.00% |  |  |
Automotive [Member] | GM Korea [Member] | Years 2011 and 2012 [Member] |  |  |  |
Goodwill [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Industry Vehicle Sales (in units) | 81,000,000 |  |  |
Market Share | 1.40% |  |  |
Automotive [Member] | GM Korea [Member] | Years 2015 and 2016 [Member] |  |  |  |
Goodwill [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Industry Vehicle Sales (in units) | 97,100,000 |  |  |
Market Share | 1.10% |  |  |
GM Financial [Member] |  |  |  |
Goodwill [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Goodwill, beginning balance | 1,278 |  |  |
Impairment charges | 0 | 0 |  |
Effect of foreign currency translation and other | 0 |  |  |
Goodwill, ending balance | 1,278 |  |  |
Accumulated impairment charges | 0 |  | 0 |
Effect of adoption of ASU 2010-28 |  | 0 |  |
Aggregrate goodwill impairment in the period |  | $ 0 |  |

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- Definition Effect of adoption of amendments to ASU 2010-28 regarding goodwill impairment. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date, which is the cumulative amount paid and (if applicable) the fair value of any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree, adjusted for any amortization recognized prior to the adoption of any changes in generally accepted accounting principles (as applicable) and for any impairment charges, in excess of the fair value of net assets acquired in one or more business combination transactions. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 142 -Paragraph 45 -Subparagraph e -Clause 1 -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 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 142 -Paragraph 43 -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 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 141R -Paragraph 68 -Subparagraph l -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 141R -Paragraph 34 -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 6: 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 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388280&loc=d3e13770-109266 Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 141R -Paragraph 72 -Subparagraph d -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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- Definition The accumulated impairment losses related to goodwill as of the balance sheet date. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (a,h) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6905597&loc=d3e13816-109267 + Details
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- Definition Loss recognized during the period that results from the write-down of goodwill after comparing the implied fair value of reporting unit goodwill with the carrying amount of that goodwill. Goodwill is assessed at least annually for impairment. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 45 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388280&loc=d3e13777-109266 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 142 -Paragraph 20 -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 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 142 -Paragraph 45 -Subparagraph e -Clause 5 -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 141R -Paragraph 72 -Subparagraph d -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 -Subparagraph b -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 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (e) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6905597&loc=d3e13816-109267 Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6943989&loc=d3e3602-108585 Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 142 -Paragraph 43 -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 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6905597&loc=d3e13854-109267 + Details
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- Definition The increase (decrease) to the recorded value of goodwill for foreign currency translation adjustments. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 142 -Subparagraph e -Paragraph 45 -Clause 6 -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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- Definition Represents the quantification of the effect of adopting the new accounting standard or change in accounting principle expected by the entity to have a significant effect on the entity's financial statements. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 605 -SubTopic 25 -Section 65 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (c)(4) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6940631&loc=SL6749767-165964 + Details
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