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.

Segment Reporting (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended						9 Months Ended
Segment Reporting (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2021	Mar. 31, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020	Dec. 31, 2020
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales and revenue	$ 26,779			$ 35,480			$ 93,420	$ 84,967
Earnings (loss) before interest and taxes-adjusted	2,922			5,284			11,456	5,998
Adjustments	(158)			(76)			(257)	(657)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(34)			(27)			(99)	(57)
Income before income taxes	2,538			4,905			10,479	4,656
Income tax benefit (expense)	(152)			(887)			(2,300)	(1,132)
Net income	2,386	$ 2,779	$ 3,014	4,018	$ (780)	$ 286	8,179	3,524
Net income attributable to stockholders	2,420			4,045			8,278	3,581
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates	9,234			8,046			9,234	8,046	$ 8,406
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	5,126			5,245			5,126	5,245	5,230
Total assets	238,557			239,671			238,557	239,671	$ 235,194
Depreciation and amortization	3,081			3,158			9,110	9,614
Impairment charges				4			4	121
Equity income (loss)	323			309			1,015	389
Automotive
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Automotive interest income	38			51			102	195
Automotive interest expense	(230)			(327)			(723)	(823)
Operating Segments \| Automotive
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales and revenue	23,424			32,066			83,231	74,576
Earnings (loss) before interest and taxes-adjusted	2,112			4,289			8,455	4,968
Adjustments	(158)			(76)			(257)	(657)
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates	7,585			6,561			7,585	6,561
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	3,047			3,184			3,047	3,184
Total assets	121,120			128,241			121,120	128,241
Depreciation and amortization	1,514			1,333			4,272	4,017
Impairment charges				4			0	121
Equity income (loss)	270			263			858	276
Operating Segments \| GMNA \| Automotive
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales and revenue	20,554			29,128			74,443	66,563
Earnings (loss) before interest and taxes-adjusted	2,125			4,366			8,153	6,459
Adjustments	(158)			0			(175)	0
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates	585			187			585	187
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	2,267			2,372			2,267	2,372
Total assets	114,012			111,426			114,012	111,426
Depreciation and amortization	1,370			1,182			3,849	3,536
Impairment charges				0			0	20
Equity income (loss)	1			4			8	15
Operating Segments \| GMI \| Automotive
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales and revenue	2,843			2,735			8,721	7,692
Earnings (loss) before interest and taxes-adjusted	229			10			552	(811)
Adjustments	0			(76)			(82)	(657)
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates	7,000			6,374			7,000	6,374
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	780			811			780	811
Total assets	21,953			22,365			21,953	22,365
Depreciation and amortization	138			146			407	461
Impairment charges				4			0	101
Equity income (loss)	269			259			850	261
Operating Segments \| Cruise
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales and revenue	26			26			81	79
Earnings (loss) before interest and taxes-adjusted	(286)			(204)			(847)	(627)
Adjustments	0			0			0	0
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates	0			0			0	0
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	739			724			739	724
Total assets	4,912			3,815			4,912	3,815
Depreciation and amortization	13			11			37	30
Impairment charges				0			4	0
Equity income (loss)	0			0			0	0
Operating Segments \| GM Financial
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales and revenue	3,354			3,421			10,187	10,405
Earnings (loss) before interest and taxes-adjusted	1,093			1,207			3,856	1,663
Adjustments	0			0			0	0
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates	1,649			1,485			1,649	1,485
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	1,340			1,337			1,340	1,337
Total assets	113,741			108,926			113,741	108,926
Depreciation and amortization	1,554			1,814			4,801	5,567
Impairment charges				0			0	0
Equity income (loss)	53			46			157	113
Corporate \| Automotive
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales and revenue	27			203			67	321
Earnings (loss) before interest and taxes-adjusted	(242)			(87)			(250)	(680)
Adjustments	0			0			0	0
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates	0			0			0	0
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	0			1			0	1
Total assets	31,907			45,059			31,907	45,059
Depreciation and amortization	6			5			16	20
Impairment charges				0			0	0
Equity income (loss)	0			0			0	0
Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales and revenue	(25)			(33)			(79)	(93)
Earnings (loss) before interest and taxes-adjusted	3			(8)			(8)	(6)
Adjustments	0			0			0	0
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates	0			0			0	0
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	0			0			0	0
Total assets	(1,216)			(1,311)			(1,216)	(1,311)
Depreciation and amortization	0			0			0	0
Impairment charges				0			0	0
Equity income (loss)	0			0			0	0
Eliminations \| Automotive
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates	0			0			0	0
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	0			0			0	0
Total assets	(46,752)			(50,609)			(46,752)	(50,609)
Depreciation and amortization	0			0			0	0
Impairment charges				0			0	0
Equity income (loss)	$ 0			$ 0			$ 0	$ 0