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Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits (Notes)
 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2016
Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]  
Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits [Text Block]
Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits
 
Three Months Ended September 30, 2016
 
Three Months Ended September 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

 
$
109

 
$
4

 
$
101

 
$
116

 
$
6

Interest cost
553

 
140

 
50

 
689

 
184

 
59

Expected return on plan assets
(945
)
 
(179
)
 
—

 
(974
)
 
(193
)
 
—

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

 
(3
)
 
(1
)
 
3

 
(4
)
Amortization of net actuarial (gains) losses
(6
)
 
48

 
5

 
2

 
59

 
10

Net periodic pension and OPEB (income) expense
$
(303
)
 
$
121

 
$
56

 
$
(183
)
 
$
169

 
$
71


 
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016
 
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015
 
Pension Benefits
 
Global OPEB Plans
 
Pension Benefits
 
Global OPEB Plans
 
U.S.
 
Non-U.S.
 
 
U.S.
 
Non-U.S.
 
Service cost
$
287

 
$
283

 
$
13

 
$
304

 
$
311

 
$
18

Interest cost
1,659

 
424

 
150

 
2,066

 
575

 
178

Expected return on plan assets
(2,834
)
 
(540
)
 
—

 
(2,922
)
 
(598
)
 
—

Amortization of prior service cost (credit)
(3
)
 
9

 
(10
)
 
(3
)
 
11

 
(10
)
Amortization of net actuarial (gains) losses
(19
)
 
143

 
15

 
6

 
175

 
27

Curtailments, settlements and other
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
108

 
—

Net periodic pension and OPEB (income) expense
$
(910
)
 
$
319

 
$
168

 
$
(549
)
 
$
582

 
$
213



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 $192 million and $577 million in the three and nine months ended September 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 nine months ended September 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 nine months ended September 30, 2015 were due primarily to the General Motors of Canada Company (GM Canada) hourly pension plan that was remeasured as a result of a voluntary separation program.