Name:	gm_AssetsSubjecttoorAvailableforOperatingLeaseAccumulatedDepreciationCurrent
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Amount before accumulated depreciation of assets, by major property class, subject to or available for lease as of the balance sheet date, classified as current.

No definition available.

Name:	gm_AssetsSubjecttoorAvailableforOperatingLeaseGrossCurrent
Namespace Prefix:	gm_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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The amount of assets, by major property class, net of accumulated depreciation, subject to or available for lease as of the balance sheet date and classified as current.

No definition available.

Name:	gm_AssetsSubjecttoorAvailableforOperatingLeaseNetCurrent
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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The amount of expense recognized in the current period that reflects the allocation of the cost of tangible assets over the assets' useful lives. Includes production and non-production related depreciation.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66902209&loc=d3e3602-108585

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 360
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (a)
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- References

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsReceivableAbstract
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Future rental payments receivable within one year of the balance sheet date under an operating lease.

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Future rental payments receivable within the fifth year from the balance sheet date under an operating lease.

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Future rental payments receivable within the fourth year from the balance sheet date under an operating lease.

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Future rental payments receivable within the third year from the balance sheet date under an operating lease.

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Future rental payments receivable within the second year from the balance sheet date under an operating lease.

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
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The amount of accumulated depreciation, by major property class, recorded on property subject to or available for lease as of the balance sheet date.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 840
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6454179&loc=d3e41551-112718

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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Amount before accumulated depreciation of physical assets used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services subject to or available for lease.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 840
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-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6453916&loc=d3e41457-112716

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 840
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-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6454179&loc=d3e41551-112718

Name:	us-gaap_PropertySubjectToOrAvailableForOperatingLeaseGross
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Period Type:	instant

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_PropertySubjectToOrAvailableForOperatingLeaseLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
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Period Type:	duration

The amount of property, by major property class, net of accumulated depreciation, subject to or available for lease as of the balance sheet date.

Name:	us-gaap_PropertySubjectToOrAvailableForOperatingLeaseNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
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Period Type:	instant

The charge against earnings resulting from the aggregate write down of tangible assets from their carrying value to their fair value.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 360
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-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64862545&loc=d3e2921-110230

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 205
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-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64827811&loc=d3e1361-107760