Consolidated Income Statements - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Net sales and revenue
Automotive	$ 122,697	$ 133,045
Total net sales and revenue (Note 3)	137,237	147,049	$ 145,588
Costs and expenses
Automotive and other cost of sales	110,651	120,656	116,229
Automotive and other selling, general and administrative expense	8,491	9,650	9,570
Total costs and expenses	131,756	142,604	136,927
Operating income	5,481	4,445	8,661
Automotive interest expense	782	655	575
Interest income and other non-operating income, net (Note 19)	1,469	2,596	1,645
Equity income (Note 8)	1,268	2,163	2,132
Income before income taxes	7,436	8,549	11,863
Income tax expense (Note 17)	769	474	11,533
Income from continuing operations	6,667	8,075	330
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax (Note 22)	0	70	4,212
Net income (loss)	6,667	8,005	(3,882)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	65	9	18
Net income (loss) attributable to stockholders	6,732	8,014	(3,864)
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders	$ 6,581	$ 7,916	$ (3,880)
Earnings per share (Note 21)
Basic earnings per common share – continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 4.62	$ 5.66	$ 0.23
Basic loss per common share – discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0	0.05	2.88
Basic earnings (loss) per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 4.62	$ 5.61	$ (2.65)
Weighted-average common shares outstanding – basic (in shares)	1,424	1,411	1,465
Diluted earnings per common share – continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 4.57	$ 5.58	$ 0.22
Diluted loss per common share – discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0	0.05	2.82
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 4.57	$ 5.53	$ (2.60)
Weighted-average common shares outstanding – diluted (in shares)	1,439	1,431	1,492
Automotive
Net sales and revenue
Automotive	$ 122,697	$ 133,045	$ 133,449
GM Financial
Net sales and revenue
Total net sales and revenue (Note 3)	14,540	14,004	12,139
Costs and expenses
GM Financial interest, operating and other expenses	$ 12,614	$ 12,298	$ 11,128

Automotive Interest Expense

No definition available.

Name:	gm_AutomotiveInterestExpense
Namespace Prefix:	gm_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The aggregate costs related to goods produced and sold and services rendered by an entity during the reporting period. This excludes costs incurred during the reporting period related to financial services rendered and other revenue generating activities.