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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, 2019 | Sep. 30, 2019 | Jun. 30, 2019 | Mar. 31, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2018 | Sep. 30, 2018 | Jun. 30, 2018 | Mar. 31, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2017
Revenue and others for Reportable Segment [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total net sales and revenue | $ 30,826 | $ 35,473 | $ 36,060 | $ 34,878 | $ 38,399 | $ 35,791 | $ 36,760 | $ 36,099 | $ 137,237 | $ 147,049 | $ 145,588
Earnings (loss) before interest and taxes-adjusted |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 8,393 | 11,783 | 12,844
Adjustments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (539) | (2,905) | (654)
Automotive interest expense |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (4,423) | (3,880) | (3,141)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (65) | (9) | (18)
Income before income taxes |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 7,436 | 8,549 | 11,863
Income tax (expense) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (769) | (474) | (11,533)
Income from continuing operations | (192) | 2,311 | 2,403 | 2,145 | 2,069 | 2,530 | 2,366 | 1,110 | 6,667 | 8,075 | 330
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 0 | (70) | 0 | (70) | (4,212)
Net income attributable to stockholders | (194) | 2,351 | 2,418 | 2,157 | 2,044 | 2,534 | $ 2,390 | $ 1,046 | 6,732 | 8,014 | (3,864)
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates | 8,562 |  |  |  | 9,215 |  |  |  | 8,562 | 9,215 | 9,073
Goodwill and intangible assets, net | 5,337 |  |  |  | 5,579 |  |  |  | 5,337 | 5,579 | 5,849
Total Assets | 228,037 |  |  |  | 227,339 |  |  |  | 228,037 | 227,339 | 212,482
Expenditures for property |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 7,592 | 8,761 | 8,453
Depreciation and amortization |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 14,060 | 13,142 | 11,967
Impairment charges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 58 | 527 | 294
Equity income |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,268 | 2,163 | 2,132
Disposal Group, Disposed of by Sale, Not Discontinued Operations | FAW-GM |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue and others for Reportable Segment [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss on sale of discontinued operations before taxes | 164 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 164 |  |
Transformation Activities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue and others for Reportable Segment [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring charges and other charges | 267 | 390 | 361 | 790 | 1,300 |  |  |  |  |  |
Ignition Switch Recall Litigations |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue and others for Reportable Segment [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ignition switch related legal matters |  |  |  |  |  | $ 440 |  |  |  |  |
GMNA | Transformation Activities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue and others for Reportable Segment [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring charges and other charges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,600 | 1,200 |
GMI | Transformation Activities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue and others for Reportable Segment [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring charges and other charges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 115 |  |
GMI | Separation Programs in Korea |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue and others for Reportable Segment [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring charges and other charges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,200 |
GMI | Brazil | GM Brazil Indirect Tax Claim |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue and others for Reportable Segment [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Estimated potential recovery from taxing authority |  | $ 123 | $ 380 | $ 857 |  |  |  |  | 1,400 |  |
GMI | Separation Programs in South Africa and India |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue and others for Reportable Segment [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring charges and other charges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 460
GMI | Separation Programs in Venezuela |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue and others for Reportable Segment [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Deconsolidation loss |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 80
Operating Segments | Cruise |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue and others for Reportable Segment [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total net sales and revenue |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 100 | 0 | 0
Earnings (loss) before interest and taxes-adjusted |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (1,004) | (728) | (613)
Adjustments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates | 0 |  |  |  | 0 |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 0
Goodwill and intangible assets, net | 634 |  |  |  | 671 |  |  |  | 634 | 671 | 679
Total Assets | 4,230 |  |  |  | 3,195 |  |  |  | 4,230 | 3,195 | 666
Expenditures for property |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 60 | 15 | 34
Depreciation and amortization |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 21 | 7 | 1
Impairment charges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 36 | 0 | 0
Equity income |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 0
Operating Segments | GM Financial |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue and others for Reportable Segment [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total net sales and revenue |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 14,554 | 14,016 | 12,151
Earnings (loss) before interest and taxes-adjusted |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2,104 | 1,893 | 1,196
Adjustments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 0
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates | 1,455 |  |  |  | 1,355 |  |  |  | 1,455 | 1,355 | 1,187
Goodwill and intangible assets, net | 1,355 |  |  |  | 1,356 |  |  |  | 1,355 | 1,356 | 1,367
Total Assets | 108,881 |  |  |  | 109,953 |  |  |  | 108,881 | 109,953 | 97,251
Expenditures for property |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 47 | 60 | 94
Depreciation and amortization |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 7,350 | 7,531 | 6,573
Impairment charges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 0
Equity income |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 166 | 183 | 173
Eliminations/ Reclassifications |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue and others for Reportable Segment [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total net sales and revenue |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (114) | (110) | (170)
Earnings (loss) before interest and taxes-adjusted |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (18) | (4) | (7)
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 | (1,454) |  |  |  | (1,487) |  |  |  | (1,454) | (1,487) | (844)
Expenditures for property |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 0
Depreciation and amortization |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 0
Impairment charges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 0
Equity income |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 0
Automotive |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue and others for Reportable Segment [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Automotive interest income |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 429 | 335 | 266
Automotive interest expense |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (782) | (655) | (575)
Automotive | Operating Segments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue and others for Reportable Segment [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total net sales and revenue |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 122,697 | 133,143 | 133,607
Earnings (loss) before interest and taxes-adjusted |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 7,311 | 10,622 | 12,268
Adjustments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (539) | (2,905) | (654)
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates | 7,107 |  |  |  | 7,860 |  |  |  | 7,107 | 7,860 | 7,886
Goodwill and intangible assets, net | 3,348 |  |  |  | 3,552 |  |  |  | 3,348 | 3,552 | 3,803
Total Assets | 116,380 |  |  |  | 115,678 |  |  |  | 116,380 | 115,678 | 115,409
Expenditures for property |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 7,485 | 8,686 | 8,325
Depreciation and amortization |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 6,689 | 5,604 | 5,393
Impairment charges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 22 | 527 | 294
Equity income |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,102 | 1,980 | 1,959
Automotive | Operating Segments | GMNA |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue and others for Reportable Segment [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total net sales and revenue |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 106,366 | 113,792 | 111,345
Earnings (loss) before interest and taxes-adjusted |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 8,204 | 10,769 | 11,889
Adjustments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (1,618) | (1,236) | 0
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates | 84 |  |  |  | 75 |  |  |  | 84 | 75 | 68
Goodwill and intangible assets, net | 2,459 |  |  |  | 2,623 |  |  |  | 2,459 | 2,623 | 2,819
Total Assets | 109,290 |  |  |  | 109,763 |  |  |  | 109,290 | 109,763 | 99,874
Expenditures for property |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 6,305 | 7,784 | 7,704
Depreciation and amortization |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 6,112 | 4,995 | 4,654
Impairment charges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 15 | 55 | 78
Equity income |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 8 | 8 | 8
Automotive | Operating Segments | GMI |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue and others for Reportable Segment [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total net sales and revenue |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16,111 | 19,148 | 21,920
Earnings (loss) before interest and taxes-adjusted |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (202) | 423 | 1,300
Adjustments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,081 | (1,212) | (540)
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates | 7,023 |  |  |  | 7,761 |  |  |  | 7,023 | 7,761 | 7,818
Goodwill and intangible assets, net | 888 |  |  |  | 928 |  |  |  | 888 | 928 | 973
Total Assets | 24,969 |  |  |  | 24,911 |  |  |  | 24,969 | 24,911 | 27,712
Expenditures for property |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,096 | 883 | 607
Depreciation and amortization |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 533 | 562 | 708
Impairment charges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 7 | 466 | 211
Equity income |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,123 | 1,972 | 1,951
Automotive | Corporate |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue and others for Reportable Segment [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total net sales and revenue |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 220 | 203 | 342
Earnings (loss) before interest and taxes-adjusted |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (691) | (570) | (921)
Adjustments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (2) | (457) | (114)
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates | 0 |  |  |  | 24 |  |  |  | 0 | 24 | 0
Goodwill and intangible assets, net | 1 |  |  |  | 1 |  |  |  | 1 | 1 | 11
Total Assets | 32,365 |  |  |  | 31,694 |  |  |  | 32,365 | 31,694 | 30,573
Expenditures for property |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 84 | 21 | 14
Depreciation and amortization |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 46 | 50 | 32
Impairment charges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 6 | 5
Equity income |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (29) | 0 | 0
Automotive | Corporate | Ignition Switch Recall Litigations |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue and others for Reportable Segment [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ignition switch related legal matters |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 440 | 114
Automotive | Eliminations/ Reclassifications |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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 | $ (50,244) |  |  |  | $ (50,690) |  |  |  | (50,244) | (50,690) | (42,750)
Expenditures for property |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | (2) | 0
Depreciation and amortization |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (2) | (3) | (1)
Impairment charges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 0
Equity income |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 0

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