Restructuring and Other Initiatives (Notes)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2016

Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]

Restructuring and Other Initiatives [Text Block]

Restructuring and Other Initiatives

We have executed various restructuring and other initiatives and we plan to execute additional initiatives in the future, if necessary, in order to align manufacturing capacity and other costs with prevailing global automotive production and to improve the utilization of remaining facilities. To the extent these programs involve voluntary separations, no liabilities are generally recorded until offers to employees are accepted. If employees are involuntarily terminated, a liability is generally recorded at the communication date. Related charges are recorded in Automotive cost of sales and Automotive selling, general and administrative expense. The following tables summarize the reserves and charges related to restructuring and other initiatives, including postemployment benefit reserves and charges, by segment:



	Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
	September 30, 2016			September 30, 2015			September 30, 2016			September 30, 2015
Balance at beginning of period	$	446		$	1,050		$	581		$	1,378
Additions, interest accretion and other	35			127			387			474
Payments	(56		)	(168		)	(560		)	(779		)
Revisions to estimates and effect of foreign currency	(29		)	(61		)	(12		)	(125		)
Balance at end of period(a)	$	396		$	948		$	396		$	948

________


(a)	Included temporary layoff benefits of $351 million at September 30, 2015 in GMNA.

In the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 restructuring and other initiatives related primarily to: (1) charges of $240 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2016 in GMNA related to the cash severance incentive program to qualified U.S. hourly employees under our 2015 labor agreement with the International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agriculture Implement Workers of America (UAW); and (2) separation and other programs in Australia, Korea and India and the withdrawal of the Chevrolet brand from Europe. Restructuring costs incurred were insignificant and $94 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016. Collectively these programs had a total cost since inception of $789 million and affected a total of approximately 4,550 employees in GMIO through September 30, 2016. We expect to complete these programs in GMIO in 2017 and incur additional related restructuring and other charges of approximately $70 million.

In the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 restructuring and other initiatives related primarily to: (1) our exit of Russia for which we recorded total pre-tax charges of $450 million in GME and GMIO in the nine months ended September 30, 2015, of which $112 million is reflected in the table above; and (2) separation and other programs in Australia, Korea, Thailand and Indonesia and the withdrawal of the Chevrolet brand from Europe. Restructuring costs incurred were insignificant and $149 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015. Collectively, these programs had a total cost since inception of $663 million in GMIO through September 30, 2015.