Segment Reporting (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2018
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales and revenue	$ 36,060		$ 36,760	$ 70,938	$ 72,859
Earnings (loss) before interest and taxes-adjusted	3,012		3,192	5,322	5,802
Adjustments	19		(196)	86	(1,138)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(15)		(24)	(27)	(30)
Income before income taxes	2,927		2,885	5,209	4,461
Income tax benefit (expense)	(524)		(519)	(661)	(985)
Income from continuing operations	2,403		2,366	4,548	3,476
(Loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	0		0	0	(70)
Net income attributable to stockholders	2,418		2,390	4,575	3,436
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates	8,340		8,788	8,340	8,788	$ 9,215
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	5,457		5,720	5,457	5,720	5,579
Total assets	233,737		218,641	233,737	218,641	$ 227,339
Depreciation and amortization	3,396		3,099	7,505	6,196
Impairment charges	11		30	18	514
Equity income	271		637	685	1,285
Brazil [Member] \| GM Brazil Indirect Tax Claim [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Favorable settlement amount	380	$ 857
Transformation Activities [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Pre-tax restructuring costs	361			1,200
Automotive [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Automotive interest income	106		72	204	136
Automotive interest expense	(195)		(159)	(376)	(309)
GMI [Member] \| Brazil [Member] \| GM Brazil Indirect Tax Claim [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Favorable settlement amount	380			1,200
Operating Segments [Member] \| Automotive [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales and revenue	32,425		33,309	63,686	66,024
Earnings (loss) before interest and taxes-adjusted	2,758		2,813	4,891	5,142
Adjustments	19		(196)	86	(1,138)
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates	6,894		7,528	6,894	7,528
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	3,429		3,683	3,429	3,683
Total assets	120,347		114,613	120,347	114,613
Depreciation and amortization	1,541		1,264	3,749	2,537
Impairment charges	11		30	18	514
Equity income	229		592	598	1,188
Operating Segments [Member] \| GMNA [Member] \| Automotive [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales and revenue	28,324		28,501	55,689	56,319
Earnings (loss) before interest and taxes-adjusted	3,022		2,670	4,918	4,903
Adjustments	(336)		0	(1,119)	0
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates	82		81	82	81
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	2,520		2,725	2,520	2,725
Total assets	114,515		108,202	114,515	108,202
Depreciation and amortization	1,409		1,114	3,478	2,223
Impairment charges	8		28	15	53
Equity income	2		3	4	5
Operating Segments [Member] \| GMI [Member] \| Automotive [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales and revenue	4,047		4,758	7,897	9,606
Earnings (loss) before interest and taxes-adjusted	(48)		143	(17)	332
Adjustments	357		(196)	1,207	(1,138)
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates	6,800		7,447	6,800	7,447
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	908		949	908	949
Total assets	26,681		26,905	26,681	26,905
Depreciation and amortization	119		137	246	290
Impairment charges	3		2	3	461
Equity income	233		589	607	1,183
Operating Segments [Member] \| GM Cruise [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales and revenue	25		0	50	0
Earnings (loss) before interest and taxes-adjusted	(279)		(154)	(448)	(320)
Adjustments	0		0	0	0
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates	0		0	0	0
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	670		679	670	679
Total assets	4,212		2,684	4,212	2,684
Depreciation and amortization	7		2	9	3
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	3,639		3,488	7,259	6,899
Earnings (loss) before interest and taxes-adjusted	536		536	895	979
Adjustments	0		0	0	0
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates	1,446		1,260	1,446	1,260
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	1,358		1,358	1,358	1,358
Total assets	110,711		102,657	110,711	102,657
Depreciation and amortization	1,848		1,833	3,747	3,656
Impairment charges	0		0	0	0
Equity income	42		45	87	97
Corporate [Member] \| Automotive [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales and revenue	54		50	100	99
Earnings (loss) before interest and taxes-adjusted	(216)		0	(10)	(93)
Adjustments	(2)		0	(2)	0
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates	12		0	12	0
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	1		9	1	9
Total assets	29,597		24,795	29,597	24,795
Depreciation and amortization	13		13	25	24
Impairment charges	0		0	0	0
Equity income	(6)		0	(13)	0
Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales and revenue	(29)		(37)	(57)	(64)
Earnings (loss) before interest and taxes-adjusted	(3)		(3)	(16)	1
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	(1,533)		(1,313)	(1,533)	(1,313)
Depreciation and amortization	0		0	0	0
Impairment charges	0		0	0	0
Equity income	0		0	0	0
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	(50,446)		(45,289)	(50,446)	(45,289)
Depreciation and amortization	0		0	0	0
Impairment charges	0		0	0	0
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