v2.4.0.6
Derivative Financial Instruments and Risk Management (Details)
Share data in Millions, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2012
Automotive [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2011
Automotive [Member]
USD ($)
Mar. 31, 2011
Automotive [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2012
Automotive [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2011
Automotive [Member]
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2011
Automotive [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2012
Automotive [Member]
Level 1 [Member]
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2011
Automotive [Member]
Level 1 [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2012
Automotive [Member]
Level 2 [Member]
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2011
Automotive [Member]
Level 2 [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2012
Automotive [Member]
Level 3 [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2011
Automotive [Member]
Level 3 [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2012
Automotive [Member]
Level 3 [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2011
Automotive [Member]
Level 3 [Member]
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2011
Automotive [Member]
Level 3 [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2012
Automotive [Member]
Other Current Assets [Member]
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2011
Automotive [Member]
Other Current Assets [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2012
Automotive [Member]
Other Noncurrent Assets [Member]
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2011
Automotive [Member]
Other Noncurrent Assets [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2012
Automotive [Member]
Other Current Liabilities [Member]
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2011
Automotive [Member]
Other Current Liabilities [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2012
Automotive [Member]
Other Noncurrent Liability [Member]
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2011
Automotive [Member]
Other Noncurrent Liability [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2012
Automotive [Member]
Foreign Exchange Contract [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2011
Automotive [Member]
Foreign Exchange Contract [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2012
Automotive [Member]
Foreign Exchange Contract [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2011
Automotive [Member]
Foreign Exchange Contract [Member]
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2011
Automotive [Member]
Foreign Exchange Contract [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2012
Automotive [Member]
Foreign Exchange Contract [Member]
Level 1 [Member]
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2011
Automotive [Member]
Foreign Exchange Contract [Member]
Level 1 [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2012
Automotive [Member]
Foreign Exchange Contract [Member]
Level 2 [Member]
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2011
Automotive [Member]
Foreign Exchange Contract [Member]
Level 2 [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2012
Automotive [Member]
Foreign Exchange Contract [Member]
Level 3 [Member]
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2011
Automotive [Member]
Foreign Exchange Contract [Member]
Level 3 [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2012
Automotive [Member]
Foreign Exchange Contract [Member]
Other Current Assets [Member]
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2011
Automotive [Member]
Foreign Exchange Contract [Member]
Other Current Assets [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2012
Automotive [Member]
Foreign Exchange Contract [Member]
Other Noncurrent Assets [Member]
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2011
Automotive [Member]
Foreign Exchange Contract [Member]
Other Noncurrent Assets [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2012
Automotive [Member]
Foreign Exchange Contract [Member]
Other Current Liabilities [Member]
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2011
Automotive [Member]
Foreign Exchange Contract [Member]
Other Current Liabilities [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2012
Automotive [Member]
Foreign Exchange Contract [Member]
Other Noncurrent Liability [Member]
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2011
Automotive [Member]
Foreign Exchange Contract [Member]
Other Noncurrent Liability [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2012
Automotive [Member]
Commodity Contract [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2011
Automotive [Member]
Commodity Contract [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2012
Automotive [Member]
Commodity Contract [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2011
Automotive [Member]
Commodity Contract [Member]
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2011
Automotive [Member]
Commodity Contract [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2012
Automotive [Member]
Commodity Contract [Member]
Level 1 [Member]
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2011
Automotive [Member]
Commodity Contract [Member]
Level 1 [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2012
Automotive [Member]
Commodity Contract [Member]
Level 2 [Member]
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2011
Automotive [Member]
Commodity Contract [Member]
Level 2 [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2012
Automotive [Member]
Commodity Contract [Member]
Level 3 [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2011
Automotive [Member]
Commodity Contract [Member]
Level 3 [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2012
Automotive [Member]
Commodity Contract [Member]
Level 3 [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2011
Automotive [Member]
Commodity Contract [Member]
Level 3 [Member]
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2011
Automotive [Member]
Commodity Contract [Member]
Level 3 [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2012
Automotive [Member]
Commodity Contract [Member]
Other Current Assets [Member]
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2011
Automotive [Member]
Commodity Contract [Member]
Other Current Assets [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2012
Automotive [Member]
Commodity Contract [Member]
Other Noncurrent Assets [Member]
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2011
Automotive [Member]
Commodity Contract [Member]
Other Noncurrent Assets [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2012
Automotive [Member]
Commodity Contract [Member]
Other Current Liabilities [Member]
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2011
Automotive [Member]
Commodity Contract [Member]
Other Current Liabilities [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2012
Automotive [Member]
Commodity Contract [Member]
Other Noncurrent Liability [Member]
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2011
Automotive [Member]
Commodity Contract [Member]
Other Noncurrent Liability [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2012
Automotive [Member]
Embedded Derivative Financial Instruments [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2011
Automotive [Member]
Embedded Derivative Financial Instruments [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2012
Automotive [Member]
Embedded Derivative Financial Instruments [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2011
Automotive [Member]
Embedded Derivative Financial Instruments [Member]
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2011
Automotive [Member]
Embedded Derivative Financial Instruments [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2012
Automotive [Member]
Embedded Derivative Financial Instruments [Member]
Level 1 [Member]
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2011
Automotive [Member]
Embedded Derivative Financial Instruments [Member]
Level 1 [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2012
Automotive [Member]
Embedded Derivative Financial Instruments [Member]
Level 2 [Member]
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2011
Automotive [Member]
Embedded Derivative Financial Instruments [Member]
Level 2 [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2012
Automotive [Member]
Embedded Derivative Financial Instruments [Member]
Level 3 [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2011
Automotive [Member]
Embedded Derivative Financial Instruments [Member]
Level 3 [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2012
Automotive [Member]
Embedded Derivative Financial Instruments [Member]
Level 3 [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2012
Automotive [Member]
Embedded Derivative Financial Instruments [Member]
Level 3 [Member]
EUR (€)
Jun. 30, 2011
Automotive [Member]
Embedded Derivative Financial Instruments [Member]
Level 3 [Member]
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2011
Automotive [Member]
Embedded Derivative Financial Instruments [Member]
Level 3 [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2012
Automotive [Member]
Embedded Derivative Financial Instruments [Member]
Other Current Assets [Member]
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2011
Automotive [Member]
Embedded Derivative Financial Instruments [Member]
Other Current Assets [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2012
Automotive [Member]
Embedded Derivative Financial Instruments [Member]
Other Noncurrent Assets [Member]
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2011
Automotive [Member]
Embedded Derivative Financial Instruments [Member]
Other Noncurrent Assets [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2012
Automotive [Member]
Embedded Derivative Financial Instruments [Member]
Other Current Liabilities [Member]
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2011
Automotive [Member]
Embedded Derivative Financial Instruments [Member]
Other Current Liabilities [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2012
Automotive [Member]
Embedded Derivative Financial Instruments [Member]
Other Noncurrent Liability [Member]
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2011
Automotive [Member]
Embedded Derivative Financial Instruments [Member]
Other Noncurrent Liability [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2012
Automotive [Member]
Warrant [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2011
Automotive [Member]
Warrant [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2012
Automotive [Member]
Warrant [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2011
Automotive [Member]
Warrant [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2012
Automotive [Member]
Coal [Member]
Commodity Contract [Member]
Level 3 [Member]
Jun. 30, 2012
Automotive [Member]
Heavy Fuel Oil [Member]
Commodity Contract [Member]
Level 3 [Member]
Jun. 30, 2012
Automotive [Member]
Euro/Turkish Lira Exchange Rate [Member]
Embedded Derivative Financial Instruments [Member]
Level 3 [Member]
EUR (€)
Jun. 30, 2012
GM Financial [Member]
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2011
GM Financial [Member]
USD ($)
Fair value of Derivatives [Abstract]                                                                                                                                                                                                
Notional Amount of Derivatives $ 10,708,000,000     $ 10,708,000,000   $ 10,534,000,000                                   $ 6,860,000,000   $ 6,860,000,000   $ 6,507,000,000                             $ 2,512,000,000   $ 2,512,000,000   $ 2,566,000,000                                   $ 1,336,000,000   $ 1,336,000,000   $ 1,461,000,000                                                      
Derivative Asset, Fair Value 151,000,000     151,000,000   225,000,000 0 0 95,000,000 77,000,000 56,000,000   56,000,000   148,000,000 112,000,000 101,000,000 39,000,000 124,000,000         88,000,000   88,000,000   64,000,000 0 0 88,000,000 64,000,000 0 0 88,000,000 64,000,000 0 0         12,000,000   12,000,000   9,000,000 0 0 4,000,000 9,000,000 8,000,000   8,000,000   0 8,000,000 9,000,000 4,000,000 0         51,000,000   51,000,000   152,000,000 0 0 3,000,000 4,000,000 48,000,000   48,000,000     148,000,000 16,000,000 28,000,000 35,000,000 124,000,000                          
Derivative Liability, Fair Value 51,000,000     51,000,000   67,000,000 0 0 51,000,000 57,000,000 0   0   10,000,000         45,000,000 57,000,000 6,000,000 10,000,000 38,000,000   38,000,000   46,000,000 0 0 38,000,000 46,000,000 0 0         38,000,000 46,000,000 0 0 7,000,000   7,000,000   15,000,000 0 0 7,000,000 5,000,000 0   0   10,000,000         5,000,000 10,000,000 2,000,000 5,000,000 6,000,000   6,000,000   6,000,000 0 0 6,000,000 6,000,000 0   0     0         2,000,000 1,000,000 4,000,000 5,000,000                  
Forward Contract Price                                                                                                                                                                                       110.44 528.56      
Supplier nonperformance risk                                                                                                       2.72%   2.72%                                                                                    
Forward Exchange Rate                                                                                                                                                                                           2.75    
Volume commitment and vehicle mix                                                                                                                                                         1,000,000,000                                      
Fair Value of Derivatives, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Roll Forward]                                                                                                                                                                                                
Balance at Beginning of Period                     120,000,000 57,000,000 138,000,000 0                                                                           16,000,000 0 (10,000,000) 0                                     104,000,000 57,000,000 148,000,000   0                                    
Realized Unrealized Gain (Loss) Included in Earnings                     (49,000,000) 87,000,000 (88,000,000) 140,000,000                                                                           (6,000,000) 0 (2,000,000) 0                                     (43,000,000) 87,000,000 (86,000,000)   140,000,000                                    
Realized Unrealized Gain (Loss) Included in Other Comprehensive Income                     (7,000,000) 1,000,000 (3,000,000) 5,000,000                                                                           (1,000,000) 0 (1,000,000) 0                                     (6,000,000) 1,000,000 (2,000,000)   5,000,000                                    
Settlements                     (8,000,000) 0 (15,000,000) 0                                                                           (1,000,000) 0 (3,000,000) 0                                     (7,000,000) 0 (12,000,000)   0                                    
Issuances                         24,000,000 0                                                                               24,000,000 0                                         0   0                                    
Balance at End of Period                     56,000,000 145,000,000 56,000,000 145,000,000                                                                           8,000,000 0 8,000,000 0                                     48,000,000 145,000,000 48,000,000   145,000,000                                    
Gain (Loss) on Derivative [Abstract]                                                                                                                                                                                                
Gains and (losses) in earnings attributable to the change in unrealized gains or (losses) relating to assets still held at the reporting date                     (50,000,000) 87,000,000 (88,000,000) 140,000,000                                                                           (6,000,000) 0 (2,000,000) 0                                     (44,000,000) 87,000,000 (86,000,000)   140,000,000                                    
Gains (Losses) Recorded in Other Nonoperating Income (Expense) (41,000,000) 77,000,000   (106,000,000) 130,000,000                                     24,000,000 35,000,000 8,000,000 25,000,000                               (20,000,000) (44,000,000) (26,000,000) (44,000,000)                                     (45,000,000) 86,000,000 (88,000,000) 145,000,000                                       0 0 0 4,000,000          
Other Derivatives [Abstract]                                                                                                                                                                                                
Number of common stock shares warrants are called for     4                                                                                                                                                                                          
Exercise price for warrants     2.76                                                                                                                                                                                          
Proceeds from Warrant Exercises     48,000,000                                                                                                                                                                                          
GM Financial Derivatives [Abstract]                                                                                                                                                                                                
Derivative Asset, Notional Amount                                                                                                                                                                                             1,500,000,000 2,000,000,000
Derivative Liability, Notional Amount                                                                                                                                                                                             $ 1,500,000,000 $ 2,000,000,000