Segment Reporting (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales and revenue	$ 36,760	$ 36,984	$ 72,859	$ 74,250
Earnings (loss) before interest and taxes-adjusted	3,192	3,682	5,802	7,236
Adjustments	(196)	(654)	(1,138)	(654)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(24)	3	(30)	12
Income before income taxes	2,885	2,967	4,461	6,440
Income tax benefit (expense)	(519)	(534)	(985)	(1,321)
Income from continuing operations	2,366	2,433	3,476	5,119
(Loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	(770)	(70)	(839)
Net income attributable to stockholders	2,390	1,660	3,436	4,268
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates	8,788	8,248	8,788	8,248	$ 9,073
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	5,720	5,989	5,720	5,989	5,849
Total assets	218,641	240,300	218,641	240,300	$ 212,482
Depreciation and amortization	3,099	2,961	6,196	5,683
Impairment charges	30	233	514	254
Equity income	637	530	1,285	1,085
Automotive [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Automotive interest income	72	68	136	125
Automotive interest expense	(159)	(132)	(309)	(279)
GMI [Member] \| Separation Programs In South Africa And India [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Pre-tax restructuring costs		460		460
GMI [Member] \| Separation Programs In Venezuela [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Deconsolidation loss		80		80
Operating Segments [Member] \| GM Cruise [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales and revenue	0	0	0	0
Earnings (loss) before interest and taxes-adjusted	(154)	(157)	(320)	(290)
Adjustments	0	0	0	0
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates	0	0	0	0
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	679	620	679	620
Total assets	2,684	559	2,684	559
Depreciation and amortization	2	1	3	1
Impairment charges	0	0	0	0
Equity income	0	0	0	0
Operating Segments [Member] \| GM Financial [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales and revenue	3,488	2,990	6,899	5,738
Earnings (loss) before interest and taxes-adjusted	536	357	979	585
Adjustments	0	0	0	0
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates	1,260	1,056	1,260	1,056
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	1,358	1,368	1,358	1,368
Total assets	102,657	103,588	102,657	103,588
Depreciation and amortization	1,833	1,586	3,656	3,014
Impairment charges	0	0	0	0
Equity income	45	42	97	88
Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales and revenue	(37)	(7)	(64)	(139)
Earnings (loss) before interest and taxes-adjusted	(3)	(3)	1	(3)
Adjustments	0	0	0	0
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates	0	0	0	0
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	0	0	0	0
Total assets	(1,313)	(1,482)	(1,313)	(1,482)
Depreciation and amortization	0	0	0	0
Impairment charges	0	0	0	0
Equity income	0	0	0	0
Group [Member] \| Operating Segments [Member] \| Automotive [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales and revenue	33,309	34,001	66,024	68,651
Earnings (loss) before interest and taxes-adjusted	2,813	3,485	5,142	6,944
Adjustments	(196)	(654)	(1,138)	(654)
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates	7,528	7,192	7,528	7,192
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	3,683	4,001	3,683	4,001
Total assets	114,613	137,635	114,613	137,635
Depreciation and amortization	1,264	1,374	2,537	2,668
Impairment charges	30	233	514	254
Equity income	592	488	1,188	997
Group [Member] \| Operating Segments [Member] \| GMNA [Member] \| Automotive [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales and revenue	28,501	28,437	56,319	57,775
Earnings (loss) before interest and taxes-adjusted	2,670	3,475	4,903	6,946
Adjustments	0	0	0	0
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates	81	79	81	79
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	2,725	2,998	2,725	2,998
Total assets	108,202	109,358	108,202	109,358
Depreciation and amortization	1,114	1,187	2,223	2,289
Impairment charges	28	34	53	49
Equity income	3	1	5	6
Group [Member] \| Operating Segments [Member] \| GMI [Member] \| Automotive [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales and revenue	4,758	5,512	9,606	10,650
Earnings (loss) before interest and taxes-adjusted	143	317	332	495
Adjustments	(196)	(540)	(1,138)	(540)
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates	7,447	7,113	7,447	7,113
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	949	990	949	990
Total assets	26,905	27,260	26,905	27,260
Depreciation and amortization	137	178	290	369
Impairment charges	2	199	461	200
Equity income	589	487	1,183	991
Group [Member] \| Corporate [Member] \| Automotive [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales and revenue	50	52	99	226
Earnings (loss) before interest and taxes-adjusted	0	(307)	(93)	(497)
Adjustments	0	(114)	0	(114)
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates	0	0	0	0
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	9	13	9	13
Total assets	24,795	41,284	24,795	41,284
Depreciation and amortization	13	9	24	11
Impairment charges	0	0	0	5
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		114
Group [Member] \| Eliminations [Member] \| Automotive [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates	0	0	0	0
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	0	0	0	0
Total assets	(45,289)	(40,267)	(45,289)	(40,267)
Depreciation and amortization	0	0	0	(1)
Impairment charges	0	0	0	0
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Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 810
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1A
-Subparagraph (a)(2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84161450&loc=SL4573702-111684

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