Segment Reporting (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales and revenue	$ 36,984	$ 37,383	$ 74,250	$ 70,399
Earnings (loss) before automotive interest and taxes-adjusted	3,682	3,846	7,236	6,588
Adjustments	(654)	(115)	(654)	(175)
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	3	(16)	12	(38)
Income before income taxes	2,967	3,621	6,440	6,201
Income tax expense	(534)	(877)	(1,321)	(1,534)
Income from continuing operations	2,433	2,744	5,119	4,667
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax (Note 2)	(770)	106	(839)	114
Net income attributable to common stockholders	1,660	2,866	4,268	4,819
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates	8,248	8,198	8,248	8,198	$ 8,996
Total assets	240,300	210,449	240,300	210,449	$ 221,690
Depreciation and amortization	2,961	2,371	5,683	4,487
Impairment charges	233	61	254	104
Equity income	530	660	1,085	1,220
Automotive [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Automotive interest income	68	50	125	94
Automotive interest expense	(132)	(144)	(279)	(268)
GMIO [Member] \| Separation Programs In South Africa And India [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Pre-tax restructuring costs	460		460
GMSA [Member] \| Separation Programs In Venezuela [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Deconsolidation loss	80		80
Group [Member] \| Operating Segments [Member] \| Automotive [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales and revenue	34,001	35,246	68,651	66,332
Earnings (loss) before automotive interest and taxes-adjusted	3,328	3,632	6,654	6,181
Adjustments	(654)	(115)	(654)	(175)
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates	7,192	7,319	7,192	7,319
Total assets	138,194	134,476	138,194	134,476
Depreciation and amortization	1,375	1,254	2,669	2,446
Impairment charges	233	61	254	104
Equity income	488	622	997	1,146
Group [Member] \| Operating Segments [Member] \| GMNA [Member] \| Automotive [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales and revenue	28,437	30,222	57,775	56,730
Earnings (loss) before automotive interest and taxes-adjusted	3,475	3,745	6,946	6,129
Adjustments	0	0	0	0
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates	79	73	79	73
Total assets	109,312	98,173	109,312	98,173
Depreciation and amortization	1,187	1,073	2,289	2,097
Impairment charges	34	30	49	41
Equity income	1	153	6	159
Group [Member] \| Operating Segments [Member] \| GMIO [Member] \| Automotive [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales and revenue	3,215	3,342	6,393	6,547
Earnings (loss) before automotive interest and taxes-adjusted	340	190	637	624
Adjustments	(460)	0	(460)	0
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates	7,112	7,244	7,112	7,244
Total assets	20,436	21,562	20,436	21,562
Depreciation and amortization	108	106	226	214
Impairment charges	196	31	197	63
Equity income	487	469	991	987
Group [Member] \| Operating Segments [Member] \| GMSA [Member] \| Automotive [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales and revenue	2,297	1,639	4,257	2,982
Earnings (loss) before automotive interest and taxes-adjusted	(23)	(118)	(142)	(182)
Adjustments	(80)	0	(80)	0
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates	1	2	1	2
Total assets	7,141	7,676	7,141	7,676
Depreciation and amortization	70	70	143	127
Impairment charges	3	0	3	0
Equity income	0	0	0	0
Group [Member] \| Operating Segments [Member] \| GM Financial [Member] \| GM Financial [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales and revenue	2,990	2,138	5,738	4,069
Earnings (loss) before automotive interest and taxes-adjusted	357	214	585	407
Adjustments	0	0	0	0
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates	1,056	879	1,056	879
Total assets	103,588	77,724	103,588	77,724
Depreciation and amortization	1,586	1,117	3,014	2,041
Impairment charges	0	0	0	0
Equity income	42	38	88	74
Group [Member] \| Corporate [Member] \| Automotive [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales and revenue	52	43	226	73
Earnings (loss) before automotive interest and taxes-adjusted	(464)	(185)	(787)	(390)
Adjustments	(114)	(115)	(114)	(175)
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates	0	0	0	0
Total assets	41,890	34,928	41,890	34,928
Depreciation and amortization	10	5	12	10
Impairment charges	0	0	5	0
Equity income	0	0	0	0
Group [Member] \| Corporate [Member] \| Automotive [Member] \| Ignition Switch Recall Litigations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Charges for legal related matters	114	115	114	175
Group [Member] \| Eliminations [Member] \| Automotive [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates	0	0	0	0
Total assets	(40,585)	(27,863)	(40,585)	(27,863)
Depreciation and amortization	0	0	(1)	(2)
Impairment charges	0	0	0	0
Equity income	0	0	0	0
Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales and revenue	(7)	(1)	(139)	(2)
Earnings (loss) before automotive interest and taxes-adjusted	(3)	0	(3)	0
Adjustments	0	0	0	0
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates	0	0	0	0
Total assets	(1,482)	(1,751)	(1,482)	(1,751)
Depreciation and amortization	0	0	0	0
Impairment charges	0	0	0	0
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