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Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits (Notes)
 6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2016
Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]  
Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits [Text Block]
Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits
 
Three Months Ended June 30, 2016
 
Three Months Ended June 30, 2015
 
Pension Benefits
 
Global OPEB Plans
 
Pension Benefits
 
Global OPEB Plans
 
U.S.
 
Non-U.S.
 
 
U.S.
 
Non-U.S.
 
Service cost
$
96

 
$
89

 
$
4

 
$
102

 
$
95

 
$
6

Interest cost
553

 
140

 
50

 
688

 
195

 
59

Expected return on plan assets
(944
)
 
(179
)
 
—

 
(974
)
 
(202
)
 
—

Amortization of prior service cost (credit)
(1
)
 
3

 
(3
)
 
(1
)
 
4

 
(3
)
Amortization of net actuarial (gains) losses
(7
)
 
48

 
5

 
2

 
59

 
9

Curtailments, settlements and other
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
107

 
—

Net periodic pension and OPEB (income) expense
$
(303
)
 
$
101

 
$
56

 
$
(183
)
 
$
258

 
$
71


 
Six Months Ended June 30, 2016
 
Six Months Ended June 30, 2015
 
Pension Benefits
 
Global OPEB Plans
 
Pension Benefits
 
Global OPEB Plans
 
U.S.
 
Non-U.S.
 
 
U.S.
 
Non-U.S.
 
Service cost
$
191

 
$
174

 
$
9

 
$
203

 
$
195

 
$
12

Interest cost
1,106

 
284

 
100

 
1,377

 
391

 
119

Expected return on plan assets
(1,889
)
 
(361
)
 
—

 
(1,948
)
 
(405
)
 
—

Amortization of prior service cost (credit)
(2
)
 
6

 
(7
)
 
(2
)
 
8

 
(6
)
Amortization of net actuarial (gains) losses
(13
)
 
95

 
10

 
4

 
117

 
17

Curtailments, settlements and other
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
107

 
—

Net periodic pension and OPEB (income) expense
$
(607
)
 
$
198

 
$
112

 
$
(366
)
 
$
413

 
$
142



Effective January 2016 the discount rate used to determine the service cost and interest cost for our pension and other postretirement benefits (OPEB) plans was based on individual annual yield curve rates. This refinement is considered a change in estimate and has been applied prospectively. The use of the individual annual yield curve rates has reduced the service cost and interest cost by $194 million and $385 million in the three and six months ended June 30, 2016, which will be offset in the actuarial gains and losses upon the next remeasurement of the plans' obligations.

We made discretionary contributions to our U.S. hourly pension plan of $2.0 billion in the six months ended June 30, 2016. These discretionary contributions were funded with the net proceeds from the issuance of the automotive senior unsecured notes described in Note 8.

The curtailment charges recorded in the three and six months ended June 30, 2015 were due primarily to the GM Canada hourly pension plan that was remeasured as a result of a voluntary separation program.