v2.4.0.6
Segment Reporting Summarize key financial information by segment (Details) (USD $)
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2012
Mar. 31, 2011
Dec. 31, 2011
Revenue and others for Reportable Segment [Abstract]      
External customers $ 37,328,000,000 $ 35,899,000,000  
GM Financial revenue 431,000,000 295,000,000  
Intersegment 0 0  
Total net sales and revenue 37,759,000,000 36,194,000,000  
Income (loss) before automotive interest and income taxes-adjusted 2,182,000,000 2,042,000,000  
Adjustments (612,000,000) 1,483,000,000  
Corporate interest income 89,000,000 127,000,000  
Automotive interest expense (110,000,000) (149,000,000)  
Loss on extinguishment of debt 18,000,000    
Income (loss) before income taxes 1,531,000,000 3,503,000,000  
Income tax expense 216,000,000 137,000,000  
Net income attributable to stockholders 1,315,000,000 3,366,000,000  
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates 6,793,000,000   6,790,000,000
Total Assets 150,194,000,000   144,603,000,000
Expenditures for property 1,994,000,000 1,322,000,000  
Depreciation, amortization and impairment of long-lived assets and finite-lived intangible assets 1,468,000,000 1,576,000,000  
Equity income, net of tax 423,000,000 2,144,000,000  
Equity income, net of tax and gain on disposal of investments   2,144,000,000  
Significant non-cash charges not classified as adjustments in [Abstract]      
Impairment charges related to long-lived assets 31,000,000 26,000,000  
Impairment charges related to equipment on operating leases 55,000,000 39,000,000  
Total significant non-cash charges 86,000,000 65,000,000  
Goodwill impairment charges 617,000,000 395,000,000  
Automotive [Member]
     
Revenue and others for Reportable Segment [Abstract]      
External customers 37,328,000,000 35,899,000,000  
GM Financial revenue 0 0  
Intersegment 0 0  
Total net sales and revenue 37,328,000,000 35,899,000,000  
Income (loss) before automotive interest and income taxes-adjusted 2,001,000,000 1,912,000,000  
Adjustments 612,000,000 (1,483,000,000)  
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates 6,793,000,000    
Total Assets 136,980,000,000    
Expenditures for property 1,990,000,000 1,322,000,000  
Depreciation, amortization and impairment of long-lived assets and finite-lived intangible assets 1,427,000,000 1,562,000,000  
Equity income, net of tax 423,000,000    
Equity income, net of tax and gain on disposal of investments   2,144,000,000  
Significant non-cash charges not classified as adjustments in [Abstract]      
Impairment charges related to long-lived assets 31,000,000 26,000,000  
Impairment charges related to equipment on operating leases 55,000,000 39,000,000  
Total significant non-cash charges 86,000,000 65,000,000  
Automotive [Member] | GMNA [Member]
     
Revenue and others for Reportable Segment [Abstract]      
External customers 23,175,000,000 21,283,000,000  
GM Financial revenue 0 0  
Intersegment 1,001,000,000 827,000,000  
Total net sales and revenue 24,176,000,000 22,110,000,000  
Income (loss) before automotive interest and income taxes-adjusted 1,691,000,000 1,253,000,000  
Adjustments 0 (1,645,000,000)  
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates 63,000,000    
Total Assets 87,593,000,000    
Expenditures for property 1,032,000,000 581,000,000  
Depreciation, amortization and impairment of long-lived assets and finite-lived intangible assets 888,000,000 977,000,000  
Equity income, net of tax 2,000,000    
Equity income, net of tax and gain on disposal of investments   1,729,000,000  
Significant non-cash charges not classified as adjustments in [Abstract]      
Impairment charges related to long-lived assets 24,000,000 23,000,000  
Impairment charges related to equipment on operating leases 20,000,000 15,000,000  
Total significant non-cash charges 44,000,000 38,000,000  
Gain on sale of New Delphi Class A membership interest   1,600,000,000  
Automotive [Member] | GME [Member]
     
Revenue and others for Reportable Segment [Abstract]      
External customers 5,255,000,000 6,262,000,000  
GM Financial revenue 0 0  
Intersegment 258,000,000 608,000,000  
Total net sales and revenue 5,513,000,000 6,870,000,000  
Income (loss) before automotive interest and income taxes-adjusted (256,000,000) 5,000,000  
Adjustments 590,000,000 395,000,000  
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates 51,000,000    
Total Assets 17,000,000,000    
Expenditures for property 365,000,000 237,000,000  
Depreciation, amortization and impairment of long-lived assets and finite-lived intangible assets 280,000,000 340,000,000  
Equity income, net of tax 0    
Equity income, net of tax and gain on disposal of investments   0  
Significant non-cash charges not classified as adjustments in [Abstract]      
Impairment charges related to long-lived assets 0 0  
Impairment charges related to equipment on operating leases 35,000,000 24,000,000  
Total significant non-cash charges 35,000,000 24,000,000  
Goodwill impairment charges 590,000,000 395,000,000  
Automotive [Member] | GMIO [Member]
     
Revenue and others for Reportable Segment [Abstract]      
External customers 5,016,000,000 4,492,000,000  
GM Financial revenue 0 0  
Intersegment 1,044,000,000 716,000,000  
Total net sales and revenue 6,060,000,000 5,208,000,000  
Income (loss) before automotive interest and income taxes-adjusted 529,000,000 586,000,000  
Adjustments 22,000,000 106,000,000  
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates 6,676,000,000    
Total Assets 23,222,000,000    
Expenditures for property 295,000,000 295,000,000  
Depreciation, amortization and impairment of long-lived assets and finite-lived intangible assets 129,000,000 116,000,000  
Equity income, net of tax 421,000,000    
Equity income, net of tax and gain on disposal of investments   415,000,000  
Significant non-cash charges not classified as adjustments in [Abstract]      
Impairment charges related to long-lived assets 6,000,000 2,000,000  
Impairment charges related to equipment on operating leases 0 0  
Total significant non-cash charges 6,000,000 2,000,000  
Goodwill impairment charges 22,000,000    
Charges related to HKJV   106,000,000  
Automotive [Member] | GMSA [Member]
     
Revenue and others for Reportable Segment [Abstract]      
External customers 3,867,000,000 3,846,000,000  
GM Financial revenue 0 0  
Intersegment 72,000,000 50,000,000  
Total net sales and revenue 3,939,000,000 3,896,000,000  
Income (loss) before automotive interest and income taxes-adjusted 83,000,000 90,000,000  
Adjustments 0 0  
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates 3,000,000    
Total Assets 12,086,000,000    
Expenditures for property 280,000,000 189,000,000  
Depreciation, amortization and impairment of long-lived assets and finite-lived intangible assets 118,000,000 116,000,000  
Equity income, net of tax 0    
Equity income, net of tax and gain on disposal of investments   0  
Significant non-cash charges not classified as adjustments in [Abstract]      
Impairment charges related to long-lived assets 1,000,000 1,000,000  
Impairment charges related to equipment on operating leases 0 0  
Total significant non-cash charges 1,000,000 1,000,000  
Automotive [Member] | Corporate [Member]
     
Revenue and others for Reportable Segment [Abstract]      
External customers 15,000,000 16,000,000  
GM Financial revenue 0 0  
Intersegment 0 0  
Total net sales and revenue 15,000,000 16,000,000  
Income (loss) before automotive interest and income taxes-adjusted (19,000,000) (20,000,000)  
Adjustments 0 339,000,000  
Corporate interest income 89,000,000 127,000,000  
Automotive interest expense (110,000,000) (149,000,000)  
Loss on extinguishment of debt 18,000,000    
Income (loss) before income taxes (58,000,000) 297,000,000  
Income tax expense 142,000,000 66,000,000  
Net income attributable to stockholders (200,000,000) 231,000,000  
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates 0    
Total Assets 31,354,000,000    
Expenditures for property 18,000,000 20,000,000  
Depreciation, amortization and impairment of long-lived assets and finite-lived intangible assets 12,000,000 13,000,000  
Equity income, net of tax 0    
Equity income, net of tax and gain on disposal of investments   0  
Significant non-cash charges not classified as adjustments in [Abstract]      
Impairment charges related to long-lived assets 0 0  
Impairment charges related to equipment on operating leases 0 0  
Total significant non-cash charges 0 0  
Gain on sale of Ally preferred stock   339,000,000  
Automotive [Member] | Intersegment Elimination [Member]
     
Revenue and others for Reportable Segment [Abstract]      
External customers 0 0  
GM Financial revenue 0 0  
Intersegment (2,375,000,000) (2,201,000,000)  
Total net sales and revenue (2,375,000,000) (2,201,000,000)  
Income (loss) before automotive interest and income taxes-adjusted (27,000,000) (2,000,000)  
Adjustments 0 0  
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates 0    
Total Assets (34,275,000,000)    
Expenditures for property 0 0  
Depreciation, amortization and impairment of long-lived assets and finite-lived intangible assets 0 0  
Equity income, net of tax 0    
Equity income, net of tax and gain on disposal of investments   0  
Significant non-cash charges not classified as adjustments in [Abstract]      
Impairment charges related to long-lived assets 0 0  
Impairment charges related to equipment on operating leases 0 0  
Total significant non-cash charges 0 0  
GM Financial [Member]
     
Revenue and others for Reportable Segment [Abstract]      
External customers 0 0  
GM Financial revenue 431,000,000 295,000,000  
Intersegment 0 0  
Total net sales and revenue 431,000,000 295,000,000  
Income (loss) before automotive interest and income taxes-adjusted 181,000,000 130,000,000  
Adjustments 0 0  
Corporate interest income 0 0  
Automotive interest expense 0 0  
Loss on extinguishment of debt 0    
Income (loss) before income taxes 181,000,000 130,000,000  
Income tax expense 74,000,000 71,000,000  
Net income attributable to stockholders 107,000,000 59,000,000  
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates 0    
Total Assets 13,656,000,000    
Expenditures for property 4,000,000 0  
Depreciation, amortization and impairment of long-lived assets and finite-lived intangible assets 43,000,000 14,000,000  
Equity income, net of tax 0    
Equity income, net of tax and gain on disposal of investments   0  
Significant non-cash charges not classified as adjustments in [Abstract]      
Impairment charges related to long-lived assets 0 0  
Impairment charges related to equipment on operating leases 0 0  
Total significant non-cash charges 0 0  
Corporate Elimination [Member]
     
Revenue and others for Reportable Segment [Abstract]      
External customers 0 0  
GM Financial revenue 0 0  
Intersegment 0 0  
Total net sales and revenue 0 0  
Income (loss) before automotive interest and income taxes-adjusted 0 0  
Adjustments 0 0  
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates 0    
Total Assets (442,000,000)    
Expenditures for property 0 0  
Depreciation, amortization and impairment of long-lived assets and finite-lived intangible assets (2,000,000) 0  
Equity income, net of tax 0    
Equity income, net of tax and gain on disposal of investments   0  
Significant non-cash charges not classified as adjustments in [Abstract]      
Impairment charges related to long-lived assets 0 0  
Impairment charges related to equipment on operating leases 0 0  
Total significant non-cash charges $ 0 $ 0