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Commitments and Contingencies | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2021
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] |
Commitments and Contingencies | Commitments and Contingencies Litigation-Related Liability and Tax Administrative Matters In the normal course of our business, we are named from time to time as a defendant in various legal actions, including arbitrations, class actions and other litigation. We identify below the material individual proceedings and investigations where we believe a material loss is reasonably possible or probable. We accrue for matters when we believe that losses are probable and can be reasonably estimated. At December 31, 2021 and 2020, we had accruals of $1.4 billion and $1.2 billion in Accrued liabilities and Other liabilities. In many matters, it is inherently difficult to determine whether loss is probable or reasonably possible or to estimate the size or range of the possible loss. Accordingly adverse outcomes from such proceedings could exceed the amounts accrued by an amount that could be material to our results of operations or cash flows in any particular reporting period. GM Korea Wage Litigation GM Korea Company (GM Korea) is party to litigation with current and former salaried employees over whether to include fixed bonuses in the calculation of Ordinary Wages due under Korean regulations. In 2017, the Seoul High Court (an intermediate-level appellate court) held that certain workers are not barred from filing retroactive wage claims. GM Korea appealed this ruling to the Korea Supreme Court. In June 2021, the Korea Supreme Court affirmed the adverse rulings of the Seoul High Court. Accordingly, as of December 31, 2021, our total accrual relating to this matter was insignificant and we estimate our reasonably possible loss in excess of amounts accrued to be insignificant. GM Korea is also party to litigation with current and former subcontract workers over allegations that they are entitled to the same wages and benefits provided to full-time employees, and to be hired as full-time employees. In May 2018 and September 2020, the Korean labor authorities issued adverse administrative orders finding that GM Korea must hire certain current subcontract workers as full-time employees. GM Korea appealed the May 2018 and September 2020 orders. In June 2020, the Seoul High Court ruled against GM Korea in one of the subcontract worker claims. GM Korea has appealed this decision to the Korea Supreme Court. At December 31, 2021, our accrual covering certain asserted claims and claims that we believe are probable of assertion and for which liability is probable was approximately $281 million. We estimate the reasonably possible loss in excess of amounts accrued for other current subcontract workers who may assert similar claims to be approximately $111 million at December 31, 2021. We are currently unable to estimate any possible loss or range of loss that may result from additional claims that may be asserted by former subcontract workers. GM Brazil Indirect Tax Claim In 2019, the Superior Court of Brazil rendered favorable decisions on three cases brought by GM Brazil that granted the Company the right to recover certain tax overpayments collected by the government. As a result, GM Brazil recorded pre-tax recoveries of $1.4 billion in the year ended December 31, 2019. GM Brazil is currently realizing those recoveries as there are federal tax liabilities eligible for offset. On August 12, 2021, the Brazilian Supreme Court published its final decision on a Motion of Clarification filed by the Brazilian IRS in a related case that confirmed GM Brazil's right to recover the tax overpayments retroactively. GM is also engaged in settlement negotiations with certain third parties who have asserted entitlement to some or all of the tax recoveries recognized by GM Brazil. Accordingly, we recorded an accrual of $194 million in the three months ended December 31, 2021. Other Litigation-Related Liability and Tax Administrative Matters Various other legal actions, including class actions, governmental investigations, claims and proceedings, are pending against us or our related companies or joint ventures, including matters arising out of alleged product defects; employment-related matters; product and workplace safety, vehicle emissions and fuel economy regulations; product warranties; financial services; dealer, supplier and other contractual relationships; government regulations relating to competition issues; tax-related matters not subject to the provision of Accounting Standards Codification 740, Income Taxes (indirect tax-related matters); product design, manufacture and performance; consumer protection laws; and environmental protection laws, including laws regulating air emissions, water discharges, waste management and environmental remediation from stationary sources. There are several putative class actions pending against GM in federal courts in the U.S. and in the Provincial Courts in Canada alleging that various vehicles sold, including model year 2011-2016 Duramax Diesel Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra vehicles, violate federal, state and foreign emission standards. We are unable to estimate any reasonably possible loss or range of loss that may result from these actions. GM has also faced a series of additional lawsuits in the U.S. based on these allegations, including a shareholder demand lawsuit that remains pending. We believe that appropriate accruals have been established for losses that are probable and can be reasonably estimated. It is possible that the resolution of one or more of these matters could exceed the amounts accrued in an amount that could be material to our results of operations. We also from time to time receive subpoenas and other inquiries or requests for information from agencies or other representatives of U.S. federal, state and foreign governments on a variety of issues. Beyond the class action litigations disclosed, we have several other class action litigations pending at any given time. Historically, relatively few classes have been certified in these types of cases. Therefore, we will generally only disclose specific class actions if a class is certified and we believe there is a reasonably possible material exposure to the company. Indirect tax-related matters are being litigated globally pertaining to value added taxes, customs, duties, sales, property taxes and other non-income tax related tax exposures. The various non-U.S. labor-related matters include claims from current and former employees related to alleged unpaid wage, benefit, severance and other compensation matters. Certain administrative proceedings are indirect tax-related and may require that we deposit funds in escrow or provide an alternative form of security. Some of the matters may involve compensatory, punitive or other treble damage claims, environmental remediation programs or sanctions that, if granted, could require us to pay damages or make other expenditures in amounts that could not be reasonably estimated at December 31, 2021. We believe that appropriate accruals have been established for losses that are probable and can be reasonably estimated. For indirect tax-related matters we estimate our reasonably possible loss in excess of amounts accrued to be up to approximately $900 million at December 31, 2021. Takata Matters In November 2020, the NHTSA directed that we replace the airbag inflators in our GMT900 vehicles, which are full-size pickup trucks and SUVs, and we decided not to contest NHTSA's decision. While we have already begun the process of executing the recall, given the number of vehicles in this population, the recall will take several years to be completed. Accordingly, in the year ended December 31, 2020, we recorded a warranty accrual of $1.1 billion for the expected costs of complying with the recall remedy, and we believe the currently accrued amount remains reasonable. GM has recalled certain vehicles sold outside of the U.S. to replace Takata Corporation (Takata) inflators in those vehicles. There are significant differences in vehicle and inflator design between the relevant vehicles sold internationally and those sold in the U.S. We continue to gather and analyze evidence about these inflators and to share our findings with regulators. Any additional recalls relating to these inflators could be material to our results of operations and cash flows. There are several putative class actions that have been filed against GM, including in the federal courts in the U.S., in the Provincial Courts in Canada and in Mexico, arising out of allegations that airbag inflators manufactured by Takata are defective. At this stage of these proceedings, we are unable to provide an estimate of the amounts or range of possible loss. Chevrolet Bolt Recall In July 2021, we initiated a voluntary recall for certain 2017-2019 model year Chevrolet Bolt EVs due to the risk that two manufacturing defects present in the same battery cell could cause a high voltage battery fire in certain of these vehicles. Accordingly, in the three months ended June 30, 2021, we recorded a warranty accrual of $812 million. After further investigation into the manufacturing processes at our battery supplier, LG, and disassembling battery packs, we determined that the risk of battery cell defects was not confined to the initial recall population. As a result, in August 2021, we expanded the recall to include all 2017-2022 model year Chevrolet Bolt EV and EUVs and recorded an additional warranty accrual of $1.2 billion in the three months ended September 30, 2021. In October 2021, we reached an agreement with LG, under which LG will reimburse GM for costs and expenses associated with the recall. As a result, in the three months ended September 30, 2021, we recognized a receivable of $1.9 billion, which substantially offsets the warranty charges we recognized in connection with the recall. These charges reflect our current best estimate for the cost of the recall remedy. The actual costs of the recall and GM's associated recovery from LG could be higher or lower. For 2017-2019 model year vehicles, the recall remedy will be to replace the high voltage battery modules in these vehicles with new modules. For 2020-2022 model year vehicles, the recall remedy will be to replace any defective high voltage battery modules in these vehicles with new modules. In addition, putative class actions have been filed against GM in federal courts in the U.S. and in the Provincial Courts in Canada alleging that the batteries contained in the Bolt EVs included in the recall population are defective. At this stage of these proceedings, we are unable to provide an estimate of the amounts or range of possible loss. Opel/Vauxhall Sale In 2017, we sold the Opel/Vauxhall Business to PSA Group (now Stellantis) under a Master Agreement (the Agreement). We also sold the European financing subsidiaries and branches (together with the Opel/Vauxhall Business, the European Business) to Banque PSA Finance S.A. and BNP Paribas Personal Finance S.A. Although the sale reduced our new vehicle presence in Europe, we may still be impacted by actions taken by regulators related to vehicles sold before the sale. Our wholly owned subsidiary (the Seller) agreed to indemnify Stellantis for certain losses resulting from any inaccuracy of the representations and warranties or breaches of our covenants included in the Agreement and for certain other liabilities, including certain emissions and product liabilities. Currently, various consumer lawsuits have been filed against the Seller and Stellantis in Germany, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands alleging that Opel and Vauxhall vehicles sold by the Seller violated applicable emission standards. We are unable to estimate any reasonably possible loss or range of loss that may result from these actions either directly or through an indemnification claim from Stellantis. The Company entered into a guarantee for the benefit of Stellantis and pursuant to which the Company agreed to guarantee the Seller's obligation to indemnify Stellantis. Certain of these indemnification obligations are subject to time limitations, thresholds and/or caps as to the amount of required payments. We continue to purchase from and supply to Stellantis certain vehicles, parts and engineering services for a period of time following the sale. The following table summarizes transactions with the Opel/Vauxhall Business:
| Years Ended December 31,
| 2021 |  | 2020 |  | 2019
Net sales and revenue | $ | 114 |  |  | $ | 144 |  |  | $ | 1,129 |
Purchases and expenses | $ | 121 |  |  | $ | 392 |  |  | $ | 825 |
Cash payments(a) | $ | 226 |  |  | $ | 630 |  |  | $ | 975 |
Cash receipts(a) | $ | 146 |  |  | $ | 252 |  |  | $ | 1,408 |
__________ (a) Included in Net cash provided by operating activities. Patent Royalty Matters Several owners of patents are seeking past royalties from various automotive manufacturers, including GM, for the use of certain technologies. Accordingly, in the three months ended December 31, 2021, we accrued approximately $290 million relating to these matters. As of December 31, 2021, our total accrual relating to these matters was approximately $300 million and we estimate our reasonably possible loss in excess of amounts accrued to be insignificant. Product Liability We recorded liabilities of $587 million and $589 million in Accrued liabilities and Other liabilities at December 31, 2021 and 2020, for the expected cost of all known product liability claims, plus an estimate of the expected cost for product liability claims that have already been incurred and are expected to be filed in the future for which we are self-insured. It is reasonably possible that our accruals for product liability claims may increase in future periods in material amounts, although we cannot estimate a reasonable range of incremental loss based on currently available information. We believe that any judgment against us involving our products for actual damages will be adequately covered by our recorded accruals and, where applicable, excess liability insurance coverage. Guarantees We enter into indemnification agreements for liability claims involving products manufactured primarily by certain joint ventures. These guarantees terminate in years ranging from 2022 to 2026 or upon the occurrence of specific events or are ongoing. We believe that the related potential costs incurred are adequately covered by our recorded accruals, which are insignificant. The maximum future undiscounted payments mainly based on vehicles sold to date were $3.1 billion for these guarantees at December 31, 2021 and 2020, the majority of which relates to the indemnification agreements. We provide payment guarantees on commercial loans outstanding with third parties such as dealers. In some instances certain assets of the party or our payables to the party whose debt or performance we have guaranteed may offset, to some degree, the amount of any potential future payments. We are also exposed to residual value guarantees associated with certain sales to rental car companies. We periodically enter into agreements that incorporate indemnification provisions in the normal course of business. It is not possible to estimate our maximum exposure under these indemnifications or guarantees due to the conditional nature of these obligations. Insignificant amounts have been recorded for such obligations as the majority of them are not probable or estimable at this time and the fair value of the guarantees at issuance was insignificant. Refer to the Opel/Vauxhall Sale section of this note for additional information on our indemnification obligations to Stellantis under the Agreement. Credit Cards Credit card programs offer rebates that can be applied primarily against the purchase or lease of our vehicles. At December 31, 2021 and 2020, our redemption liability was insignificant, our deferred revenue was $309 million and $252 million, and qualified cardholders had rebates available, net of deferred program revenue, of $1.2 billion and $1.3 billion. Our redemption liability and deferred revenue are recorded in Accrued liabilities and Other liabilities.

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