XML 120 R100.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.10.0.1

Income Taxes Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016
Deferred tax assets |  |  |
Postretirement benefits other than pensions | $ 1,584 | $ 1,948 |
Pension and other employee benefit plans | 3,020 | 3,285 |
Warranties, dealer and customer allowances, claims and discounts | 6,307 | 5,675 |
Miscellaneous | 2,034 | 1,697 |
Total deferred tax assets before valuation allowances | 33,105 | 30,699 |
Less: valuation allowances | (7,976) | (6,690) |
Total deferred tax assets | 25,129 | 24,009 |
Deferred tax liabilities |  |  |
Property, plant and equipment | 1,098 | 418 |
Intangible assets | 729 | 735 |
Total deferred tax liabilities | 1,827 | 1,153 |
Net deferred tax assets | 23,302 | 22,856 |
Change in valuation allowances | 1,695 | 2,712 | $ 237
Discontinued Operations [Member] | Opel/Vauxhall Business [Member] |  |  |
Deferred tax liabilities |  |  |
Change in valuation allowances |  | 2,300 |
U.S. [Member] |  |  |
Deferred tax assets |  |  |
U.S. capitalized research expenditures | 5,176 | 4,413 |
Operating loss and tax credit carryforwards | 8,591 | 8,578 |
Deferred tax liabilities |  |  |
Operating loss and tax credit carryforwards subject to expiration | 8,600 |  |
Non-U.S. [Member] |  |  |
Deferred tax assets |  |  |
Operating loss and tax credit carryforwards | 6,393 | 5,103 |
Deferred tax liabilities |  |  |
Operating loss and tax credit carryforwards subject to expiration | 1,200 |  |
Operating loss and tax credit carryforwards not subject to expiration | 5,200 |  |
Germany, Spain and South Korea [Member] |  |  |
Deferred tax assets |  |  |
Less: valuation allowances | $ (8,000) | $ (6,700) |

X
- Definition The tax effect as of the balance sheet date of the amount of the estimated future tax deductions attributable to research and development costs that are expensed in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles but capitalized for income tax purposes. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | gm_DeferredTaxAssetsCapitalizedResearchExpenditures
Namespace Prefix: | gm_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount, before allocation of valuation allowances, of deferred tax assets attributable to deductible operating loss carryforwards and deductible tax credit carryforwards including, but not limited to, research, foreign, general business, alternative minimum tax, and other deductible tax credit carryforwards. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | gm_DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossAndTaxCreditCarryforwards
Namespace Prefix: | gm_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount before allocation of valuation allowances of deferred tax asset attributable to deductible temporary differences from warranty reserves, dealer and customer allowances, claims and discounts. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | gm_DeferredTaxAssetsWarrantiesAllowancesClaimsDiscounts
Namespace Prefix: | gm_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The sum of the tax effects as of the balance sheet date of the amount of excesses of ordinary or capital tax deductions over income and excess tax credits in a year which cannot be used on the tax returns in the current year but can be carried forward to reduce taxable income or income taxes payable in a future year not subject to expiration, for which there must be sufficient tax-basis income to utilize a portion or all of the carryforward amount to realize the deferred tax asset. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | gm_OperatingLossandTaxCreditCarryforwardsNotSubjecttoExpiration
Namespace Prefix: | gm_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The sum of the tax effects as of the balance sheet date of the amount of excesses of ordinary or capital tax deductions over income and excess tax credits in a year which cannot be used on the tax returns in the current year but can be carried forward to reduce taxable income or income taxes payable in a future year subject to expiration, for which there must be sufficient tax-basis income to utilize a portion or all of the carryforward amount to realize the deferred tax asset. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | gm_OperatingLossandTaxCreditCarryforwardsSubjecttoExpiration
Namespace Prefix: | gm_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount before allocation of valuation allowances of deferred tax asset attributable to deductible temporary differences and carryforwards. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84230637&loc=d3e32537-109319 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsGross
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsGrossAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount, after allocation of valuation allowances and deferred tax liability, of deferred tax asset attributable to deductible differences and carryforwards, without jurisdictional netting. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84230637&loc=d3e32537-109319 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsLiabilitiesNet
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount after allocation of valuation allowances of deferred tax asset attributable to deductible temporary differences and carryforwards. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (b),(c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84230637&loc=d3e32537-109319 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsNet
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount, before allocation of valuation allowance, of deferred tax asset attributable to deductible temporary differences, classified as other. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 25 -Paragraph 20 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=115928272&loc=d3e28680-109314 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 8 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84230637&loc=d3e32632-109319 Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 6 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84230637&loc=d3e32621-109319 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOther
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount before allocation of valuation allowances of deferred tax asset attributable to deductible temporary differences from pension benefits. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 6 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84230637&loc=d3e32621-109319 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationAndBenefitsPensions
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount before allocation of valuation allowances of deferred tax asset attributable to deductible temporary differences from postretirement benefits. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 6 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84230637&loc=d3e32621-109319 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationAndBenefitsPostretirementBenefits
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of deferred tax assets for which it is more likely than not that a tax benefit will not be realized. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84230637&loc=d3e32537-109319 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount, after deferred tax asset, of deferred tax liability attributable to taxable differences without jurisdictional netting. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 6 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84176650&loc=d3e31931-109318 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84230637&loc=d3e32537-109319 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilities
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of deferred tax liability attributable to taxable temporary differences from intangible assets other than goodwill. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 25 -Paragraph 20 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=115928272&loc=d3e28680-109314 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 6 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84230637&loc=d3e32621-109319 Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 8 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84230637&loc=d3e32632-109319 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesGoodwillAndIntangibleAssetsIntangibleAssets
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of deferred tax liability attributable to taxable temporary differences from property, plant, and equipment. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 25 -Paragraph 20 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=115928272&loc=d3e28680-109314 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 6 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84230637&loc=d3e32621-109319 Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 8 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84230637&loc=d3e32632-109319 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipment
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of the difference between reported income tax expense (benefit) and expected income tax expense (benefit) computed by applying the domestic federal statutory income tax rates to pretax income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to increase (decrease) in the valuation allowance for deferred tax assets. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 13 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84230637&loc=d3e32698-109319 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 12 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84230637&loc=d3e32687-109319 Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 20 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84176650&loc=d3e32123-109318 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationChangeInDeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DisposalGroupClassificationAxis=us-gaap_SegmentDiscontinuedOperationsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis=gm_OpelVauxhallBusinessMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_StatementGeographicalAxis=country_US
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_StatementGeographicalAxis=us-gaap_NonUsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_StatementGeographicalAxis=gm_GermanySpainandSouthKoreaMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |