Consolidated Income Statements - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Net sales and revenue
Automotive	$ 133,449	$ 140,205	$ 129,864
GM Financial	12,139	8,979	5,861
Total net sales and revenue	145,588	149,184	135,725
Costs and expenses
Automotive cost of sales	114,869	120,499	112,995
GM Financial interest, operating and other expenses	11,128	8,369	5,304
Automotive selling, general and administrative expense	9,575	10,354	11,888
Total costs and expenses	135,572	139,222	130,187
Operating income	10,016	9,962	5,538
Automotive interest expense	575	563	423
Interest income and other non-operating income, net	290	327	614
Gain on extinguishment of debt	0	0	449
Equity income (Note 8)	2,132	2,282	2,193
Income before income taxes	11,863	12,008	8,371
Income tax expense (benefit) (Note 18)	11,533	2,739	(1,219)
Income from continuing operations	330	9,269	9,590
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax (Note 3)	(4,212)	(1)	25
Net income (loss)	(3,882)	9,268	9,615
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	18	159	72
Net income (loss) attributable to stockholders	(3,864)	9,427	9,687
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders	$ (3,880)	$ 9,427	$ 9,687
Earnings per share (Note 21)
Basic earnings per common share – continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.23	$ 6.12	$ 6.09
Basic earnings (loss) per common share – discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	(2.88)	0.00	0.02
Basic earnings (loss) per common share (in dollars per share)	$ (2.65)	$ 6.12	$ 6.11
Weighted-average common shares outstanding – basic (in shares)	1,465	1,540	1,586
Diluted earnings per common share – continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.22	$ 6.00	$ 5.89
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share – discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	(2.82)	0.00	0.02
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share (in dollars per share)	$ (2.60)	$ 6.00	$ 5.91
Weighted-average common shares outstanding – diluted (in shares)	1,492	1,570	1,640

Automotive Interest Expense

No definition available.

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

- Definition

The aggregate costs related to goods produced and sold and services rendered by an entity during the reporting period. This excludes costs incurred during the reporting period related to financial services rendered and other revenue generating activities.