Segment Reporting (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2020
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales and revenue	$ 32,474	$ 32,709
Earnings (loss) before interest and taxes-adjusted	4,417	1,250
Adjustments	0	(489)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(8)	(8)
Income before income taxes	4,191	643
Income tax benefit (expense)	(1,177)	(357)
Net income	3,014	286
Net income attributable to stockholders	3,022	294
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates	8,979	7,521	$ 8,406
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	5,185	5,225	5,230
Total assets	238,411	246,624	$ 235,194
Depreciation and amortization	3,015	3,198
Impairment charges	0	110
Equity income (loss)	365	(132)
Automotive
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Automotive interest income	32	83
Automotive interest expense	(250)	(193)
Operating Segments \| Automotive
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales and revenue	29,062	29,149
Earnings (loss) before interest and taxes-adjusted	3,472	1,232
Adjustments	0	(489)
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates	7,349	6,084
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	3,116	3,253
Total assets	119,848	128,571
Depreciation and amortization	1,336	1,402
Impairment charges	0	110
Equity income (loss)	311	(157)
Operating Segments \| GMNA \| Automotive
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales and revenue	25,957	25,831
Earnings (loss) before interest and taxes-adjusted	3,134	2,194
Adjustments	0	0
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates	355	93
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	2,320	2,432
Total assets	113,926	109,159
Depreciation and amortization	1,198	1,227
Impairment charges	0	20
Equity income (loss)	4	6
Operating Segments \| GMI \| Automotive
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales and revenue	3,086	3,280
Earnings (loss) before interest and taxes-adjusted	308	(551)
Adjustments	0	(489)
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates	6,994	5,991
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	796	820
Total assets	22,798	23,213
Depreciation and amortization	132	166
Impairment charges	0	90
Equity income (loss)	307	(163)
Operating Segments \| Cruise
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales and revenue	30	25
Earnings (loss) before interest and taxes-adjusted	(229)	(228)
Adjustments	0	0
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates	0	0
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	730	634
Total assets	5,324	4,069
Depreciation and amortization	11	8
Impairment charges	0	0
Equity income (loss)	0	0
Operating Segments \| GM Financial
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales and revenue	3,407	3,561
Earnings (loss) before interest and taxes-adjusted	1,182	230
Adjustments	0	0
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates	1,630	1,437
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	1,339	1,338
Total assets	114,597	115,381
Depreciation and amortization	1,668	1,788
Impairment charges	0	0
Equity income (loss)	54	25
Corporate \| Automotive
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales and revenue	19	38
Earnings (loss) before interest and taxes-adjusted	30	(411)
Adjustments	0	0
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates	0	0
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	0	1
Total assets	36,271	45,965
Depreciation and amortization	6	9
Impairment charges	0	0
Equity income (loss)	0	0
Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales and revenue	(25)	(26)
Earnings (loss) before interest and taxes-adjusted	(8)	16
Adjustments	0	0
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates	0	0
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	0	0
Total assets	(1,358)	(1,397)
Depreciation and amortization	0	0
Impairment charges	0	0
Equity income (loss)	0	0
Eliminations \| Automotive
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates	0	0
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	0	0
Total assets	(53,147)	(49,766)
Depreciation and amortization	0	0
Impairment charges	0	0
Equity income (loss)	$ 0	$ 0

Earnings or loss from continuing operations attributable to the economic entity which may also be defined as revenue less expenses from ongoing operations, after income or loss from equity method investment and net of income or loss attributable to noncontrolling interest, but before adjustments that are not considered part of our core operations, automotive interest expense, corporate interest income, gain or loss on extinguishment of debt and income tax expense or benefit.

No definition available.