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Stockholders' Equity and Noncontrolling Interests - Preferred and Common Stock (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions | 1 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |
--- | --- | --- | ---
Oct. 31, 2018 USD ($) | Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($) $ / shares | Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($) | Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($) $ / shares | Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) Votes $ / shares shares | Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) $ / shares shares | Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) $ / shares shares | Dec. 31, 2027 USD ($)
Class of Stock [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Preferred stock shares authorized | shares |  |  |  |  | 2,000,000,000.0 |  |  |
Common stock shares authorized | shares |  |  |  |  | 5,000,000,000.0 |  |  |
Preferred stock shares outstanding | shares |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 |  |
Common stock number of shares issued | shares |  |  |  |  | 1,400,000,000 | 1,400,000,000 |  |
Common stock shares outstanding | shares |  |  |  |  | 1,400,000,000 | 1,400,000,000 |  |
Dividends declared per common share (in dollars per share) | $ / shares |  |  |  |  | $ 1.52 | $ 1.52 | $ 1.52 |
Cash dividends paid on common stock |  |  |  |  | $ 2,165 | $ 2,144 | $ 2,215 |
Number of votes per share | Votes |  |  |  |  | 1 |  |  |
Common shares purchased during period | shares |  |  |  |  | 0 | 3,000,000,000,000 | 120,000,000 |
Amount of common stock purchased during period |  |  |  |  | $ 0 | $ 190 | $ 4,492 |
Guarantees - maximum liability |  |  |  |  | 2,600 | $ 2,400 |  |
GM Cruise |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Class of Stock [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Investment amount |  |  | $ 1,100 |  |  |  |  |
GM Cruise | Series F Preferred Stock |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Class of Stock [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Proceeds from issuance of preferred stock |  |  |  |  | 1,200 |  |  |
Investment amount |  |  |  |  | $ 687 |  |  |
Ownership Percentage |  |  |  |  | 6.60% |  |  |
GM Cruise | Convertible Preferred Stock |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Class of Stock [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Annual dividend rate |  |  | 7.00% |  |  |  |  |
Proceeds from issuance of preferred stock |  |  | $ 900 |  |  |  |  |
GM Cruise | SoftBank Vision Fund (AIV M2), L.P. | Convertible Preferred Stock |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Class of Stock [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Additional purchase amount |  | $ 1,350 |  |  |  |  |  |
GM Cruise | Honda Motor Co., Ltd | Common Class E |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Class of Stock [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Proceeds from issuance of common stock | $ 750 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Agreed upon future contributions | $ 2,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
GM Korea | Korea Development Bank | Class B Preferred Shares |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Class of Stock [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Annual dividend rate |  |  |  |  |  | 1.00% |  |
Proceeds from issuance of preferred stock |  |  |  |  |  | $ 720 |  |
Period to call preferred shares |  |  |  |  |  | 6 years |  |
Financial Guarantee | GM Korea |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Class of Stock [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Guarantees - maximum liability |  |  |  |  |  | $ 2,800 |  |
Forecast | GM Korea |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Class of Stock [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Planned capital expenditures |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 2,000
GM Financial | Fixed-to-Floating Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series B |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Class of Stock [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Preferred stock issued |  | $ 500 |  |  |  |  |  |
Preferred stock par value (in dollars per share) | $ / shares |  | $ 0.01 |  |  |  |  |  |
Liquidation preference of preferred stock per share (in dollars per share) | $ / shares |  | $ 1,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
Annual dividend rate |  | 6.50% |  |  |  |  |  |
GM Financial | Series A Preferred Stock |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Class of Stock [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Preferred stock issued |  |  |  | $ 1,000 |  |  |  |
Preferred stock par value (in dollars per share) | $ / shares |  |  |  | $ 0.01 |  |  |  |
Liquidation preference of preferred stock per share (in dollars per share) | $ / shares |  |  |  | $ 1,000 |  |  |  |
Annual dividend rate |  |  |  | 5.75% |  |  |  |
GM |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Class of Stock [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Amount of common stock purchased during period |  |  |  |  |  | $ 100 |  |
GM Cruise |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Class of Stock [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ownership interest |  |  |  |  | 17.30% |  |  |
GM Cruise | Honda Motor Co., Ltd | Common Class E |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Class of Stock [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ownership interest | 5.70% |  |  |  |  |  |  |

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