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Segment Reporting Summary of key financial information by segment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2018 | Sep. 30, 2018 | Jun. 30, 2018 | Mar. 31, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2017 | Sep. 30, 2017 | Jun. 30, 2017 | Mar. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016
Revenue and others for Reportable Segment [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total net sales and revenue | $ 38,399 | $ 35,791 | $ 36,760 | $ 36,099 | $ 37,715 | $ 33,623 | $ 36,984 | $ 37,266 | $ 147,049 | $ 145,588 | $ 149,184
Earnings (loss) before interest and taxes-adjusted |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 11,783 | 12,844 | 12,848
Adjustments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (2,905) | (654) | (300)
Automotive interest expense |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (3,880) | (3,141) | (2,535)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (9) | (18) | (159)
Income before income taxes |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 8,549 | 11,863 | 12,008
Income tax (expense) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (474) | (11,533) | (2,739)
Income from continuing operations | 2,069 | 2,530 | 2,366 | 1,110 | (4,903) | 114 | 2,433 | 2,686 | 8,075 | 330 | 9,269
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax | 0 | 0 | 0 | (70) | (277) | (3,096) | (770) | (69) | (70) | (4,212) | (1)
Net income (loss) attributable to stockholders | 2,044 | 2,534 | $ 2,390 | $ 1,046 | (5,151) | $ (2,981) | $ 1,660 | $ 2,608 | 8,014 | (3,864) | 9,427
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates | 9,215 |  |  |  | 9,073 |  |  |  | 9,215 | 9,073 | 8,996
Goodwill and intangible assets, net | 5,579 |  |  |  | 5,849 |  |  |  | 5,579 | 5,849 | 6,149
Total Assets | 227,339 |  |  |  | 212,482 |  |  |  | 227,339 | 212,482 | 221,690
Expenditures for property |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 8,761 | 8,453 | 8,384
Depreciation and amortization |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 13,142 | 11,967 | 9,686
Impairment charges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 527 | 294 | 133
Equity income |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2,163 | 2,132 | 2,282
Transformation Activities [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue and others for Reportable Segment [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring charges and other charges | 1,300 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ignition Switch Recall Litigations [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue and others for Reportable Segment [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ignition switch related legal matters |  | $ 440 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
GMNA [Member] | Transformation Activities [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue and others for Reportable Segment [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring charges and other charges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,200 |  |
GMI [Member] | Separation Programs In Korea and Other Countries [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue and others for Reportable Segment [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring charges and other charges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,200 |  |
GMI [Member] | Separation Programs In South Africa And India [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue and others for Reportable Segment [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring charges and other charges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 460 |
GMI [Member] | Separation Programs In Venezuela [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue and others for Reportable Segment [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Deconsolidation loss |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 80 |
Operating Segments [Member] | GM Cruise Segment [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue and others for Reportable Segment [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total net sales and revenue |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 0
Earnings (loss) before interest and taxes-adjusted |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (728) | (613) | (171)
Adjustments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 0
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates | 0 |  |  |  | 0 |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 0
Goodwill and intangible assets, net | 671 |  |  |  | 679 |  |  |  | 671 | 679 | 620
Total Assets | 3,195 |  |  |  | 666 |  |  |  | 3,195 | 666 | 548
Expenditures for property |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 15 | 34 | 4
Depreciation and amortization |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 7 | 1 | 1
Impairment charges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 0
Equity income |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 0
Operating Segments [Member] | GM Financial [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue and others for Reportable Segment [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total net sales and revenue |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 14,016 | 12,151 | 8,983
Earnings (loss) before interest and taxes-adjusted |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,893 | 1,196 | 763
Adjustments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 0
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates | 1,355 |  |  |  | 1,187 |  |  |  | 1,355 | 1,187 | 944
Goodwill and intangible assets, net | 1,356 |  |  |  | 1,367 |  |  |  | 1,356 | 1,367 | 1,366
Total Assets | 109,953 |  |  |  | 97,251 |  |  |  | 109,953 | 97,251 | 87,947
Expenditures for property |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 60 | 94 | 93
Depreciation and amortization |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 7,531 | 6,573 | 4,678
Impairment charges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 0
Equity income |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 183 | 173 | 152
Eliminations [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue and others for Reportable Segment [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total net sales and revenue |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (110) | (170) | (4)
Earnings (loss) before interest and taxes-adjusted |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (4) | (7) | 3
Adjustments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 0
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates | 0 |  |  |  | 0 |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 0
Goodwill and intangible assets, net | 0 |  |  |  | 0 |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 0
Total Assets | (1,487) |  |  |  | (844) |  |  |  | (1,487) | (844) | (1,312)
Expenditures for property |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 0
Depreciation and amortization |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 0
Impairment charges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 0
Equity income |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 0
Automotive [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue and others for Reportable Segment [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Automotive interest income |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 335 | 266 | 182
Automotive interest expense |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (655) | (575) | (563)
Automotive [Member] | Operating Segments [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue and others for Reportable Segment [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total net sales and revenue |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 133,143 | 133,607 | 140,205
Earnings (loss) before interest and taxes-adjusted |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 10,622 | 12,268 | 12,253
Adjustments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (2,905) | (654) | (300)
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates | 7,860 |  |  |  | 7,886 |  |  |  | 7,860 | 7,886 | 8,052
Goodwill and intangible assets, net | 3,552 |  |  |  | 3,803 |  |  |  | 3,552 | 3,803 | 4,163
Total Assets | 115,678 |  |  |  | 115,409 |  |  |  | 115,678 | 115,409 | 134,507
Expenditures for property |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 8,686 | 8,325 | 8,287
Depreciation and amortization |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5,604 | 5,393 | 5,007
Impairment charges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 527 | 294 | 133
Equity income |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,980 | 1,959 | 2,130
Automotive [Member] | Operating Segments [Member] | GMNA [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue and others for Reportable Segment [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total net sales and revenue |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 113,792 | 111,345 | 119,113
Earnings (loss) before interest and taxes-adjusted |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 10,769 | 11,889 | 12,388
Adjustments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (1,236) | 0 | 0
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates | 75 |  |  |  | 68 |  |  |  | 75 | 68 | 74
Goodwill and intangible assets, net | 2,623 |  |  |  | 2,819 |  |  |  | 2,623 | 2,819 | 3,128
Total Assets | 109,763 |  |  |  | 99,874 |  |  |  | 109,763 | 99,874 | 103,908
Expenditures for property |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 7,784 | 7,704 | 7,338
Depreciation and amortization |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 4,995 | 4,654 | 4,292
Impairment charges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 55 | 78 | 65
Equity income |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 8 | 8 | 159
Automotive [Member] | Operating Segments [Member] | GMI [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue and others for Reportable Segment [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total net sales and revenue |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 19,148 | 21,920 | 20,943
Earnings (loss) before interest and taxes-adjusted |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 423 | 1,300 | 767
Adjustments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (1,212) | (540) | 0
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates | 7,761 |  |  |  | 7,818 |  |  |  | 7,761 | 7,818 | 7,978
Goodwill and intangible assets, net | 928 |  |  |  | 973 |  |  |  | 928 | 973 | 1,021
Total Assets | 24,911 |  |  |  | 27,712 |  |  |  | 24,911 | 27,712 | 27,273
Expenditures for property |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 883 | 607 | 943
Depreciation and amortization |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 562 | 708 | 702
Impairment charges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 466 | 211 | 68
Equity income |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,972 | 1,951 | 1,971
Automotive [Member] | Corporate [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue and others for Reportable Segment [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total net sales and revenue |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 203 | 342 | 149
Earnings (loss) before interest and taxes-adjusted |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (570) | (921) | (902)
Adjustments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (457) | (114) | (300)
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates | 24 |  |  |  | 0 |  |  |  | 24 | 0 | 0
Goodwill and intangible assets, net | 1 |  |  |  | 11 |  |  |  | 1 | 11 | 14
Total Assets | 31,694 |  |  |  | 30,573 |  |  |  | 31,694 | 30,573 | 38,465
Expenditures for property |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 21 | 14 | 8
Depreciation and amortization |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 50 | 32 | 18
Impairment charges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 6 | 5 | 0
Equity income |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 0
Automotive [Member] | Corporate [Member] | Ignition Switch Recall Litigations [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue and others for Reportable Segment [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ignition switch related legal matters |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 440 | 114 | 300
Automotive [Member] | Eliminations [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue and others for Reportable Segment [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates | 0 |  |  |  | 0 |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 0
Goodwill and intangible assets, net | 0 |  |  |  | 0 |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 0
Total Assets | $ (50,690) |  |  |  | $ (42,750) |  |  |  | (50,690) | (42,750) | (35,139)
Expenditures for property |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (2) | 0 | (2)
Depreciation and amortization |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (3) | (1) | (5)
Impairment charges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 0
Equity income |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 0

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