Nature of Operations and Basis of Presentation

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Nature of Operations and Basis of Presentation [Abstract]

Nature of Operations and Basis of Presentation

General Motors Company (sometimes referred to in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q as we, our, us, ourselves, the Company, General Motors or GM) designs, builds and sells trucks, crossovers, cars and automobile parts worldwide and is investing in and growing an autonomous vehicle business. We also provide automotive financing services through General Motors Financial Company, Inc. (GM Financial). We analyze the results of our continuing operations through the following operating segments: GM North America (GMNA), GM International Operations (GMIO), GM South America (GMSA), Cruise, and GM Financial. Our GMSA and GMIO operating segments are reported as one, combined international segment, GM International (GMI). Cruise, formerly GM Cruise, is our global segment responsible for the development and commercialization of autonomous vehicle technology. Nonsegment operations and Maven, our ride- and car-sharing business, are classified as Corporate. Corporate includes certain centrally recorded income and costs such as interest, income taxes, corporate expenditures and certain nonsegment-specific revenues and expenses.

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. GAAP pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for interim financial information. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and notes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include all adjustments, which consist of normal recurring adjustments and transactions or events discretely impacting the interim periods, considered necessary by management to fairly state our results of operations, financial position and cash flows. The operating results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for any other interim period or for the full year. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our 2018 Form 10-K. Except for per share amounts or as otherwise specified, dollar amounts presented within tables are stated in millions. In the three months ended March 31, 2019 we changed the presentation of our condensed consolidated balance sheets to reclassify the current portion of Equipment on operating leases, net to Other current assets and our condensed consolidated statements of cash flows to reclassify Payments to purchase common stock to Other financing activities. We have made corresponding reclassifications to the comparable information for all periods presented.

Principles of Consolidation We consolidate entities that we control due to ownership of a majority voting interest and we consolidate variable interest entities (VIEs) when we are the primary beneficiary. Our share of earnings or losses of nonconsolidated affiliates is included in our consolidated operating results using the equity method of accounting when we are able to exercise significant influence over the operating and financial decisions of the affiliate.

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards Effective January 1, 2019, we adopted Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2016-02, "Leases" (ASU 2016-02) using the modified retrospective method, resulting in a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of Retained earnings for an insignificant amount. We recognized $1.0 billion of right of use assets and lease obligations included in Other assets, Accrued liabilities and Other liabilities on our condensed consolidated balance sheet for our existing operating lease portfolio at January 1, 2019. We elected to apply the practical expedient related to land easements, as well as the package of practical expedients permitted under the transition guidance in the new standard, which allowed us to carry forward our historical lease classification. The accounting for our finance leases and leases where we are the lessor remained substantially unchanged. The application of ASU 2016-02 had no impact on our condensed consolidated income statement or condensed consolidated statement of cash flows.

The following table summarizes our minimum commitments under noncancelable operating leases having initial terms in excess of one year, primarily for property, at December 31, 2018 as disclosed in our 2018 Form 10-K:



	Years Ending December 31,
	2019			2020			2021			2022			2023			Thereafter			Total
Minimum commitments(a)	$	296		$	286		$	247		$	180		$	146		$	582		$	1,737
Sublease income	(61		)	(51		)	(44		)	(38		)	(33		)	(129		)	(356		)
Net minimum commitments	$	235		$	235		$	203		$	142		$	113		$	453		$	1,381

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(a)	Certain leases contain escalation clauses and renewal or purchase options.

Refer to Note 13 for information on our operating leases at September 30, 2019.

Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted In June 2016 the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued ASU 2016-13, "Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments" (ASU 2016-13), which requires entities to use a new impairment model based on Current Expected Credit Losses (CECL) rather than incurred losses. We plan to adopt ASU 2016-13 on January 1, 2020 on a modified retrospective basis. Estimated credit losses under CECL will consider relevant information about past events, current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the collectibility of the reported amount, resulting in recognition of lifetime expected credit losses upon loan origination. We are currently validating and refining our process for our implementation of ASU 2016-13. Upon adoption, we expect to record an adjustment that will increase our allowance for credit losses between $700 million and $900 million, with an after-tax reduction to Retained earnings between $500 million and $700 million. The amount of the adjustment is heavily dependent on the volume, credit mix and seasoning of our loan portfolio.