Minimum liquidity which must be maintained pursuant to debt covenants under the line of credit arrangement.

No definition available.

Name:	gm_DebtCovenantMinimumLiquidity
Namespace Prefix:	gm_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Carrying amount of debt extinguished.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	gm_ExtinguishmentofDebtCarryingAmount
Namespace Prefix:	gm_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of agency ratings needed to maintain an investment grade credit rating and avoid additional guarantee requirements as part of the revolving credit facility agreements.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	gm_LineofCreditFacilityCovenantNumberofAgencyRatingstoMaintainInvestmentGradeRating
Namespace Prefix:	gm_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The maximum borrowing capacity available to support issuances of letters of credit under the revolving credit agreement.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	gm_LineofCreditFacilitySublimitAvailableforLettersofCredit
Namespace Prefix:	gm_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The maximum borrowing capacity available to a specified subsidiary under the revolving credit agreement.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	gm_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The number of credit facilities entered into.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	gm_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Overnight deposits expressed as a percentage of total deposits.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	gm_OvernightDepositsPercentageofTotalDeposits
Namespace Prefix:	gm_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 55
-Paragraph 8
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Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

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.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Date when the debt instrument is scheduled to be fully repaid, in CCYY-MM-DD format.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(2))
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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Latest date the outstanding debt instruments are required to be repaid, in CCYY-MM-DD format.

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-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-Paragraph 1
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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Earliest date the outstanding debt instruments are required to be repaid, in CCYY-MM-DD format.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Period of time between issuance and maturity of debt instrument, in PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Weighted average interest rate of debt outstanding.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtWeightedAverageInterestRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The aggregate of all deposit liabilities held by the entity, including foreign and domestic, interest and noninterest bearing; may include demand deposits, saving deposits, Negotiable Order of Withdrawal (NOW) and time deposits among others.

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-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.12)
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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Difference between the fair value of payments made and the carrying amount of debt which is extinguished prior to maturity.

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-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=49170532&loc=d3e12355-112629

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Name:	us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

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-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b))
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Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Weighted average interest rate for all deposit liabilities in foreign banking offices.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
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Automotive and GM Financial Debt Unsecured Debt and Extinguishment of Debt (Details) € in Millions, $ in Millions	1 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2017 USD ($)	May 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Nov. 30, 2016 EUR (€)	Oct. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016 EUR (€)	Jul. 31, 2016 USD ($)	May 31, 2016 EUR (€)	Apr. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Feb. 29, 2016 USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Gain on extinguishment of debt			$ 0	$ 449	$ 202
Automotive [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Extinguishment of Debt, Amount				538	325
Gain on extinguishment of debt				$ 449	$ 202
Automotive [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage			0.00%	0.00%
Automotive [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage			18.00%	18.00%
Unsecured Debt [Member] \| Automotive [Member] \| Senior Notes Issued February 2016 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount													$ 2,000
Unsecured Debt [Member] \| Automotive [Member] \| Senior Notes 2036 at 6.6% [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount													$ 1,250
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage													6.60%
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date			Dec. 31, 2036
Unsecured Debt [Member] \| Automotive [Member] \| Senior Notes 2046 at 6.75% [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount													$ 750
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage													6.75%
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date			Dec. 31, 2046
Unsecured Debt [Member] \| GM Financial [Member] \| Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date Range, Start			Dec. 31, 2017
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date Range, End			Dec. 31, 2026
Weighted-average interest rate			3.33%
Unsecured Debt [Member] \| GM Financial [Member] \| Senior Notes Issued March 2016 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount												$ 2,750
Unsecured Debt [Member] \| GM Financial [Member] \| Senior Notes March 2021 at 4.2% [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount												$ 1,500
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage												4.20%
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date			Mar. 31, 2021
Unsecured Debt [Member] \| GM Financial [Member] \| Senior Notes March 2026 at 5.25% [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount												$ 1,250
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage												5.25%
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date			Mar. 31, 2026
Unsecured Debt [Member] \| GM Financial [Member] \| Senior Notes Issued May 2016 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount		$ 3,000
Unsecured Debt [Member] \| GM Financial [Member] \| Senior Notes May 2019 at 2.40% [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount		$ 1,400
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		2.40%								2.40%
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date			May 31, 2019
Unsecured Debt [Member] \| GM Financial [Member] \| Senior Notes May 2023 at 3.70% [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount		$ 1,200
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		3.70%								3.70%
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date			May 31, 2023
Unsecured Debt [Member] \| GM Financial [Member] \| Senior Notes May 2019 at Floating Rates [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount		$ 400
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date			May 31, 2019
Unsecured Debt [Member] \| GM Financial [Member] \| Term Notes May 2020 at 1.168% [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount \| €										€ 500
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		1.168%								1.168%
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date			May 31, 2020
Unsecured Debt [Member] \| GM Financial [Member] \| Senior Notes July 2021 at 3.2% [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount									$ 2,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage									3.20%
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date			Jul. 31, 2021
Unsecured Debt [Member] \| GM Financial [Member] \| Term Notes September 2023 at 0.955% [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount \| €								€ 750
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage								0.955%
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date			Sep. 30, 2023
Unsecured Debt [Member] \| GM Financial [Member] \| Senior Notes Issued October 2016 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount							$ 1,750
Unsecured Debt [Member] \| GM Financial [Member] \| Senior Notes October 2019 at 2.35% [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount							$ 750
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage							2.35%
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date			Oct. 31, 2019
Unsecured Debt [Member] \| GM Financial [Member] \| Senior Notes October 2026 at 4.00% [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount							$ 750
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage							4.00%
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date			Oct. 31, 2026
Unsecured Debt [Member] \| GM Financial [Member] \| Senior Notes October 2019 at Floating Rates [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount							$ 250
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date			Oct. 31, 2019
Unsecured Debt [Member] \| GM Financial [Member] \| Term Notes December 2017 at Floating Rates [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount \| €						€ 100
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date			Dec. 31, 2017
Unsecured Debt [Member] \| GM Financial [Member] \| Senior Notes Issued January 2017 [Member] \| Subsequent Event [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount	$ 2,500
Unsecured Debt [Member] \| GM Financial [Member] \| Senior Notes January 2022 at 3.45% [Member] \| Subsequent Event [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount	$ 1,250
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	3.45%
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date	Jan. 31, 2022
Unsecured Debt [Member] \| GM Financial [Member] \| Senior Notes January 2027 at 4.35% [Member] \| Subsequent Event [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount	$ 750
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	4.35%
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date	Jan. 31, 2027
Unsecured Debt [Member] \| GM Financial [Member] \| Senior Notes January 2022 at Floating Rates [Member] \| Subsequent Event [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount	$ 500
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date	Jan. 31, 2022
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] \| Unsecured Debt [Member] \| Automotive [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Number of Credit Facilities Entered Into		2
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] \| Unsecured Debt [Member] \| GM Financial [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Weighted-average interest rate			7.50%
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] \| Unsecured Debt [Member] \| GM Financial [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Term			5 years
Revolving Credit Facility October 2014 [Member] \| Unsecured Debt [Member] \| Automotive [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity											$ 12,500
Revolving Credit Facility May 2016 [Member] \| Unsecured Debt [Member] \| Automotive [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity		$ 14,500
Debt covenant, minimum liquidity requirement		$ 4,000
Revolving Credit Facility May 2016 [Member] \| Unsecured Debt [Member] \| Automotive [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Number of agencies needed to maintain investment grade rating		2								2
Three-year Revolving Credit Facility May 2016 [Member] \| Unsecured Debt [Member] \| Automotive [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity		$ 4,000
Debt Instrument, Term		3 years
Sublimit available for issuance of letters of credit		$ 1,000
Five-year Revolving Credit Facility May 2016 [Member] \| Unsecured Debt [Member] \| Automotive [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity		$ 10,500
Debt Instrument, Term		5 years
Sublimit available for issuance of letters of credit		$ 500
U.S. \| Revolving Credit Facility May 2016 [Member] \| Unsecured Debt [Member] \| Automotive [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt covenant, minimum liquidity requirement		2,000
GERMANY \| Unsecured Debt [Member] \| GM Financial [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Deposits			$ 1,900	$ 1,300
Overnight Deposits, Percentage of Total Deposits			42.00%	44.00%
Weighted-average interest rate			0.91%	1.25%
GM Financial Segment [Member] \| Three-year Revolving Credit Facility May 2016 [Member] \| Unsecured Debt [Member] \| Automotive [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Sublimit available to GM FInancial		1,000
GM Financial Segment [Member] \| Five-year Revolving Credit Facility May 2016 [Member] \| Unsecured Debt [Member] \| Automotive [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Sublimit available to GM FInancial		$ 3,000