Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Current Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 17,176	$ 20,844
Marketable securities (Note 3)	6,021	5,966
Accounts and notes receivable, net	12,116	6,549
Inventories (Note 5)	11,108	9,816
Other current assets (Note 3; Note 8 at VIEs)	6,439	5,268
Total current assets	80,090	75,293
Non-current Assets
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates (Note 7)	8,266	9,215
Property, net	38,336	38,758
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	5,518	5,579
Equipment on operating leases, net (Note 6; Note 8 at VIEs)	43,052	43,559
Deferred income taxes	24,303	24,082
Other assets (Note 3; Note 8 at VIEs)	8,119	5,770
Total non-current assets	153,042	152,046
Total Assets	233,132	227,339
Current Liabilities
Accounts payable (principally trade)	24,560	22,297
Accrued liabilities	27,471	28,049
Total current liabilities	85,303	82,237
Non-current Liabilities
Postretirement benefits other than pensions (Note 12)	5,363	5,370
Pensions (Note 12)	11,099	11,538
Other liabilities	12,917	12,357
Total non-current liabilities	103,191	102,325
Total Liabilities	188,494	184,562
Commitments and contingencies (Note 13)
Equity (Note 16)
Common stock, $0.01 par value	14	14
Additional paid-in capital	25,661	25,563
Retained earnings	23,939	22,322
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(8,849)	(9,039)
Total stockholders’ equity	40,765	38,860
Noncontrolling interests	3,873	3,917
Total Equity	44,638	42,777
Total Liabilities and Equity	233,132	227,339
GM Financial [Member]
Current Assets
GM Financial receivables, net (Note 4; Note 8 at VIEs)	27,230	26,850
Non-current Assets
GM Financial receivables, net (Note 4; Note 8 at VIEs)	25,448	25,083
Current Liabilities
Short-term debt and current portion of long-term debt (Note 9 and Note 8 at VIEs)	31,273	30,956
Non-current Liabilities
Long-term debt (Note 9 and Note 8 at VIEs)	60,858	60,032
Automotive [Member]
Current Liabilities
Short-term debt and current portion of long-term debt (Note 9 and Note 8 at VIEs)	1,999	935
Non-current Liabilities
Long-term debt (Note 9 and Note 8 at VIEs)	$ 12,954	$ 13,028

Operating Lease, Right-of-use Asset, Noncurrent

No definition available.

Name:	gm_OperatingLeaseRightofuseAssetNoncurrent
Namespace Prefix:	gm_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The aggregate of amounts due from customers or clients, within one year of the balance sheet date (or one operating cycle, if longer), for goods or services that have been delivered or sold in the normal course of business and an amount representing an agreement for an unconditional promise by the maker to pay the entity (holder) a definite sum of money at a future date within one year of the balance sheet, reduced to their estimated net realizable fair value by an allowance established by the entity of the amount it deems uncertain of collection and net of any write-downs taken for collection uncertainty on the part of the holder, respectively.