v2.4.0.6
Segment Reporting (Details) (USD $)
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 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 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 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
Jun. 30, 2011
Jun. 30, 2012
Jun. 30, 2011
Dec. 31, 2011
Jun. 30, 2012
Automotive [Member]
Mar. 31, 2012
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2011
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2012
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2011
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2012
GM Financial [Member]
Jun. 30, 2011
GM Financial [Member]
Jun. 30, 2012
GM Financial [Member]
Jun. 30, 2011
GM Financial [Member]
Jun. 30, 2012
Corporate Elimination [Member]
Jun. 30, 2011
Corporate Elimination [Member]
Jun. 30, 2012
Corporate Elimination [Member]
Jun. 30, 2011
Corporate Elimination [Member]
Jun. 30, 2012
GMNA [Member]
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2011
GMNA [Member]
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2012
GMNA [Member]
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2011
GMNA [Member]
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2012
GME [Member]
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2011
GME [Member]
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2012
GME [Member]
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2011
GME [Member]
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2012
GMIO [Member]
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2011
GMIO [Member]
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2012
GMIO [Member]
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2011
GMIO [Member]
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2012
GMSA [Member]
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2011
GMSA [Member]
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2012
GMSA [Member]
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2011
GMSA [Member]
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2012
Corporate [Member]
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2011
Corporate [Member]
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2012
Corporate [Member]
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2011
Corporate [Member]
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2012
Intersegment Elimination [Member]
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2011
Intersegment Elimination [Member]
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2012
Intersegment Elimination [Member]
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2011
Intersegment Elimination [Member]
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2012
Long-lived assets [Member]
Jun. 30, 2011
Long-lived assets [Member]
Jun. 30, 2012
Long-lived assets [Member]
Jun. 30, 2011
Long-lived assets [Member]
Jun. 30, 2012
Long-lived assets [Member]
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2011
Long-lived assets [Member]
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2012
Long-lived assets [Member]
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2011
Long-lived assets [Member]
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2012
Long-lived assets [Member]
GM Financial [Member]
Jun. 30, 2011
Long-lived assets [Member]
GM Financial [Member]
Jun. 30, 2012
Long-lived assets [Member]
GM Financial [Member]
Jun. 30, 2011
Long-lived assets [Member]
GM Financial [Member]
Jun. 30, 2012
Long-lived assets [Member]
Corporate Elimination [Member]
Jun. 30, 2011
Long-lived assets [Member]
Corporate Elimination [Member]
Jun. 30, 2012
Long-lived assets [Member]
Corporate Elimination [Member]
Jun. 30, 2011
Long-lived assets [Member]
Corporate Elimination [Member]
Jun. 30, 2012
Long-lived assets [Member]
GMNA [Member]
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2011
Long-lived assets [Member]
GMNA [Member]
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2012
Long-lived assets [Member]
GMNA [Member]
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2011
Long-lived assets [Member]
GMNA [Member]
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2012
Long-lived assets [Member]
GME [Member]
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2011
Long-lived assets [Member]
GME [Member]
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2012
Long-lived assets [Member]
GME [Member]
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2011
Long-lived assets [Member]
GME [Member]
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2012
Long-lived assets [Member]
GMIO [Member]
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2011
Long-lived assets [Member]
GMIO [Member]
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2012
Long-lived assets [Member]
GMIO [Member]
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2011
Long-lived assets [Member]
GMIO [Member]
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2012
Long-lived assets [Member]
GMSA [Member]
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2011
Long-lived assets [Member]
GMSA [Member]
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2012
Long-lived assets [Member]
GMSA [Member]
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2011
Long-lived assets [Member]
GMSA [Member]
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2012
Long-lived assets [Member]
Corporate [Member]
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2011
Long-lived assets [Member]
Corporate [Member]
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2012
Long-lived assets [Member]
Corporate [Member]
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2011
Long-lived assets [Member]
Corporate [Member]
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2012
Long-lived assets [Member]
Intersegment Elimination [Member]
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2011
Long-lived assets [Member]
Intersegment Elimination [Member]
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2012
Long-lived assets [Member]
Intersegment Elimination [Member]
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2011
Long-lived assets [Member]
Intersegment Elimination [Member]
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2012
Equipment on Operating Leases [Member]
Jun. 30, 2011
Equipment on Operating Leases [Member]
Jun. 30, 2012
Equipment on Operating Leases [Member]
Jun. 30, 2011
Equipment on Operating Leases [Member]
Jun. 30, 2012
Equipment on Operating Leases [Member]
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2011
Equipment on Operating Leases [Member]
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2012
Equipment on Operating Leases [Member]
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2011
Equipment on Operating Leases [Member]
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2012
Equipment on Operating Leases [Member]
GM Financial [Member]
Jun. 30, 2011
Equipment on Operating Leases [Member]
GM Financial [Member]
Jun. 30, 2012
Equipment on Operating Leases [Member]
GM Financial [Member]
Jun. 30, 2011
Equipment on Operating Leases [Member]
GM Financial [Member]
Jun. 30, 2012
Equipment on Operating Leases [Member]
Corporate Elimination [Member]
Jun. 30, 2011
Equipment on Operating Leases [Member]
Corporate Elimination [Member]
Jun. 30, 2012
Equipment on Operating Leases [Member]
Corporate Elimination [Member]
Jun. 30, 2011
Equipment on Operating Leases [Member]
Corporate Elimination [Member]
Jun. 30, 2012
Equipment on Operating Leases [Member]
GMNA [Member]
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2011
Equipment on Operating Leases [Member]
GMNA [Member]
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2012
Equipment on Operating Leases [Member]
GMNA [Member]
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2011
Equipment on Operating Leases [Member]
GMNA [Member]
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2012
Equipment on Operating Leases [Member]
GME [Member]
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2011
Equipment on Operating Leases [Member]
GME [Member]
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2012
Equipment on Operating Leases [Member]
GME [Member]
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2011
Equipment on Operating Leases [Member]
GME [Member]
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2012
Equipment on Operating Leases [Member]
GMIO [Member]
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2011
Equipment on Operating Leases [Member]
GMIO [Member]
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2012
Equipment on Operating Leases [Member]
GMIO [Member]
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2011
Equipment on Operating Leases [Member]
GMIO [Member]
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2012
Equipment on Operating Leases [Member]
GMSA [Member]
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2011
Equipment on Operating Leases [Member]
GMSA [Member]
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2012
Equipment on Operating Leases [Member]
GMSA [Member]
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2011
Equipment on Operating Leases [Member]
GMSA [Member]
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2012
Equipment on Operating Leases [Member]
Corporate [Member]
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2011
Equipment on Operating Leases [Member]
Corporate [Member]
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2012
Equipment on Operating Leases [Member]
Corporate [Member]
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2011
Equipment on Operating Leases [Member]
Corporate [Member]
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2012
Equipment on Operating Leases [Member]
Intersegment Elimination [Member]
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2011
Equipment on Operating Leases [Member]
Intersegment Elimination [Member]
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2012
Equipment on Operating Leases [Member]
Intersegment Elimination [Member]
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2011
Equipment on Operating Leases [Member]
Intersegment Elimination [Member]
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2012
New Delphi [Member]
Jun. 30, 2011
New Delphi [Member]
Mar. 31, 2011
New Delphi [Member]
Jun. 30, 2012
New Delphi [Member]
Jun. 30, 2011
New Delphi [Member]
Jun. 30, 2011
New Delphi [Member]
GMNA [Member]
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2011
HKJV [Member]
GMIO [Member]
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2011
Ally Financial [Member]
Corporate [Member]
Automotive [Member]
Jun. 30, 2012
Parent [Member]
GMIO [Member]
Automotive [Member]
Revenue and others for Reportable Segment [Abstract]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
External customers $ 37,127,000,000 $ 39,043,000,000 $ 74,455,000,000 $ 74,942,000,000   $ 37,127,000,000   $ 39,043,000,000 $ 74,455,000,000 $ 74,942,000,000 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 21,553,000,000 $ 22,097,000,000 $ 44,728,000,000 $ 43,380,000,000 $ 5,532,000,000 $ 7,128,000,000 $ 10,787,000,000 $ 13,390,000,000 $ 5,915,000,000 $ 5,505,000,000 $ 10,931,000,000 $ 9,997,000,000 $ 4,117,000,000 $ 4,299,000,000 $ 7,984,000,000 $ 8,145,000,000 $ 10,000,000 $ 14,000,000 $ 25,000,000 $ 30,000,000 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0                                                                                                                                                                                  
GM Financial revenue 487,000,000 330,000,000 918,000,000 625,000,000   0   0 0 0 487,000,000 330,000,000 918,000,000 625,000,000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0                                                                                                                                                                                  
Intersegment 0 0 0 0   (1,000,000)   0 (1,000,000) 0 0 0 0 0 1,000,000 0 1,000,000 0 1,347,000,000 1,031,000,000 2,348,000,000 1,858,000,000 362,000,000 331,000,000 620,000,000 939,000,000 1,030,000,000 897,000,000 2,074,000,000 1,613,000,000 62,000,000 64,000,000 134,000,000 114,000,000 0 0 0 0 (2,802,000,000) (2,323,000,000) (5,177,000,000) (4,524,000,000)                                                                                                                                                                                  
Total net sales and revenue 37,614,000,000 39,373,000,000 75,373,000,000 75,567,000,000   37,126,000,000   39,043,000,000 74,454,000,000 74,942,000,000 487,000,000 330,000,000 918,000,000 625,000,000 1,000,000 0 1,000,000 0 22,900,000,000 23,128,000,000 47,076,000,000 45,238,000,000 5,894,000,000 7,459,000,000 11,407,000,000 14,329,000,000 6,945,000,000 6,402,000,000 13,005,000,000 11,610,000,000 4,179,000,000 4,363,000,000 8,118,000,000 8,259,000,000 10,000,000 14,000,000 25,000,000 30,000,000 (2,802,000,000) (2,323,000,000) (5,177,000,000) (4,524,000,000)                                                                                                                                                                                  
Income (loss) before automotive interest and income taxes-adjusted 2,119,000,000 2,962,000,000 4,301,000,000 5,004,000,000   1,902,000,000   2,818,000,000 3,903,000,000 4,730,000,000 217,000,000 144,000,000 398,000,000 274,000,000 0 0 0 0 1,965,000,000 2,249,000,000 3,656,000,000 3,502,000,000 (361,000,000) 102,000,000 (617,000,000) 107,000,000 557,000,000 573,000,000 1,086,000,000 1,159,000,000 (19,000,000) 57,000,000 64,000,000 147,000,000 (236,000,000) (138,000,000) (255,000,000) (158,000,000) (4,000,000) (25,000,000) (31,000,000) (27,000,000)                                                                                                                                                                                  
Adjustments 0 0 (612,000,000) 1,483,000,000   0   0 (612,000,000) 1,483,000,000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1,645,000,000 0 0 (590,000,000) (395,000,000) 0 0 (22,000,000) (106,000,000) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 339,000,000 0 0 0 0                                                                                                                                                                                  
Corporate interest income 86,000,000 124,000,000 175,000,000 251,000,000                                                             86,000,000 124,000,000 175,000,000 251,000,000                                                                                                                                                                                          
Automotive interest expense 118,000,000 155,000,000 228,000,000 304,000,000                                                             118,000,000 155,000,000 228,000,000 304,000,000                                                                                                                                                                                          
Gains (Losses) on Extinguishment of Debt 0 (10,000,000) (18,000,000) (10,000,000)     (18,000,000)           0                                               (18,000,000)                                                                                                                                                                                            
Income (loss) before income taxes 2,087,000,000 2,931,000,000 3,618,000,000 6,434,000,000             217,000,000 144,000,000 398,000,000 274,000,000                                         (268,000,000) (169,000,000) (326,000,000) 128,000,000                                                                                                                                                                                          
Income tax expense (benefit) 241,000,000 (61,000,000) 457,000,000 76,000,000             109,000,000 (17,000,000) 183,000,000 54,000,000                                         132,000,000 (44,000,000) 274,000,000 22,000,000                                                                                                                                                                                          
Net income (loss) attributable to stockholders 1,846,000,000 2,992,000,000 3,161,000,000 6,358,000,000             108,000,000 161,000,000 215,000,000 220,000,000                                         (400,000,000) (125,000,000) (600,000,000) 106,000,000                                                                                                                                                                                          
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates 7,058,000,000   7,058,000,000   6,790,000,000 7,058,000,000     7,058,000,000   0   0   0   0   64,000,000   64,000,000   49,000,000   49,000,000   6,942,000,000   6,942,000,000   3,000,000   3,000,000   0   0   0   0                                                                                                                                                                                    
Expenditures for property     4,059,000,000 2,498,000,000         4,052,000,000 2,494,000,000     7,000,000 4,000,000     0 0     2,241,000,000 1,247,000,000     624,000,000 440,000,000     616,000,000 428,000,000     538,000,000 357,000,000     33,000,000 26,000,000     0 (4,000,000)                                                                                                                                                                                  
Total Assets 151,987,000,000   151,987,000,000   144,603,000,000 137,880,000,000     137,880,000,000   14,673,000,000   14,673,000,000   (566,000,000)   (566,000,000)   89,874,000,000   89,874,000,000   15,872,000,000   15,872,000,000   23,481,000,000   23,481,000,000   12,629,000,000   12,629,000,000   29,804,000,000   29,804,000,000   (33,780,000,000)   (33,780,000,000)                                                                                                                                                                                    
Depreciation, amortization and impairment of long-lived assets and finite-lived intangible assets 1,520,000,000 1,634,000,000 2,988,000,000 3,210,000,000   1,468,000,000   1,615,000,000 2,895,000,000 3,177,000,000 54,000,000 19,000,000 97,000,000 33,000,000 (2,000,000) 0 (4,000,000) 0 894,000,000 990,000,000 1,782,000,000 1,967,000,000 295,000,000 374,000,000 575,000,000 714,000,000 149,000,000 123,000,000 278,000,000 239,000,000 117,000,000 115,000,000 235,000,000 231,000,000 14,000,000 13,000,000 26,000,000 26,000,000 (1,000,000) 0 (1,000,000) 0                                                                                                                                                                                  
Equity income, net of tax and gain on disposal of investments 300,000,000 382,000,000 723,000,000 2,526,000,000   300,000,000   382,000,000 723,000,000 2,526,000,000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2,000,000 3,000,000 4,000,000 1,732,000,000 0 0 0 0 298,000,000 379,000,000 719,000,000 794,000,000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0                                                                                                                                                                 0 0   0 1,727,000,000        
Significant non-cash charges not classified as adjustments in [Abstract]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
Impairment Charges                                                                                     23,000,000 18,000,000 54,000,000 44,000,000 23,000,000 18,000,000 54,000,000 44,000,000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 21,000,000 17,000,000 45,000,000 40,000,000 0 0 0 0 2,000,000 0 8,000,000 2,000,000 0 1,000,000 1,000,000 2,000,000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 75,000,000 74,000,000 130,000,000 113,000,000 75,000,000 74,000,000 130,000,000 113,000,000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 14,000,000 45,000,000 34,000,000 60,000,000 61,000,000 29,000,000 96,000,000 53,000,000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0                  
Total significant non-cash charges 98,000,000 92,000,000 184,000,000 157,000,000   98,000,000   92,000,000 184,000,000 157,000,000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 35,000,000 62,000,000 79,000,000 100,000,000 61,000,000 29,000,000 96,000,000 53,000,000 2,000,000 0 8,000,000 2,000,000 0 1,000,000 1,000,000 2,000,000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0                                                                                                                                                                                  
Goodwill impairment charges 0 0 (617,000,000) (395,000,000)   0   0 (617,000,000) (395,000,000) 0 0 0 0         0 0 0 0 0 0 (590,000,000) (395,000,000) 0 0 (27,000,000) 0 0 0 0 0                                                                                                                                                                                                 (22,000,000)
Gain on sale of New Delphi Class A membership interest                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         1,600,000,000     1,600,000,000      
Charges related to HKJV                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 (106,000,000)    
Gain on sale of Ally Financial preferred stock                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   $ 339,000,000