Nature of Operations and Basis of Presentation (Policies)	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2022
Nature of Operations and Basis of Presentation [Abstract]
Basis of Accounting	General Motors Company (sometimes referred to in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q as we, our, us, ourselves, the Company, General Motors or GM) designs, builds and sells trucks, crossovers, cars and automobile parts and provides software-enabled services and subscriptions worldwide. Additionally, we are investing in and growing an autonomous vehicle (AV) business. We also provide automotive financing services through General Motors Financial Company, Inc. (GM Financial). We analyze the results of our operations through the following segments: GM North America (GMNA), GM International (GMI), Cruise, and GM Financial. Cruise is our global segment responsible for the development and commercialization of AV technology. Nonsegment operations are classified as Corporate. Corporate includes certain centrally recorded income and costs such as interest, income taxes, corporate expenditures and certain nonsegment-specific revenues and expenses. The condensed consolidated financial statements are prepared in conformity with U.S. GAAP pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for interim financial information. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and notes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. The condensed consolidated financial statements include all adjustments, which consist of normal recurring adjustments and transactions or events discretely impacting the interim periods, considered necessary by management to fairly state our results of operations, financial position and cash flows. The operating results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for any other interim period or for the full year. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our 2021 Form 10-K. Except for per share amounts or as otherwise specified, amounts presented within tables are stated in millions. Certain columns and rows may not add due to rounding.
Principles of Consolidation	Principles of Consolidation We consolidate entities that we control due to ownership of a majority voting interest and we consolidate variable interest entities (VIEs) when we are the primary beneficiary. All intercompany balances and transactions are eliminated in consolidation. Our share of earnings or losses of nonconsolidated affiliates is included in our consolidated operating results using the equity method of accounting when we are able to exercise significant influence over the operating and financial decisions of the affiliate.
GM Financial	GM Financial The amounts presented for GM Financial are adjusted to reflect the impact on GM Financial's deferred tax positions and provision for income taxes resulting from the inclusion of GM Financial in our consolidated tax return and to eliminate the effect of transactions between GM Financial and the other members of the consolidated group. Accordingly, the amounts presented will differ from those presented by GM Financial on a stand-alone basis.
Stock Incentive Plans	Stock Incentive Plans Our stock incentive plans include Restricted Stock Units (RSUs), Restricted Stock Awards (RSAs), Performance Stock Units (PSUs), stock options and awards that may be settled in our stock, the stock of our subsidiaries or in cash. We measure and record compensation expense based on the fair value of GM or Cruise's common stock on the date of grant for RSUs, RSAs and PSUs and the grant date fair value, determined utilizing a lattice model or the Black-Scholes formula for stock options and PSUs. We record compensation cost for service-based RSUs, RSAs, PSUs and service-based stock options on a straight-line basis over the entire vesting period, or for retirement eligible employees over the requisite service period. In March 2022, all outstanding RSUs that settle in Cruise’s common stock were modified to remove the liquidity vesting condition. Prospectively, RSUs that will settle in Cruise’s common stock will vest solely upon satisfaction of a service condition. Compensation cost for awards that do not have an established accounting grant date, but for which the service inception date has been established, or are settled in cash is based generally on the fair value of GM or Cruise's common stock at the end of each reporting period. Compensation cost is also recorded on stock issued to settle awards based on the fair value of Cruise's common stock until such time that the stock has been issued for more than six months. We use the graded vesting method to record compensation cost for stock options with market conditions over the lesser of the vesting period or the time period an employee becomes eligible to retain the award at retirement.
Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted	Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted In March 2022, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2022-02 "Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Troubled Debt Restructurings and Vintage Disclosures" (ASU 2022-02), which eliminates the accounting guidance for troubled debt restructurings (TDRs) by creditors that have adopted ASU 2016-13, "Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments" and enhances certain disclosure requirements. The adoption of ASU 2022-02 is expected to be insignificant.

Nature of Operations and Basis of Presentation (Policies)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2022

Nature of Operations and Basis of Presentation [Abstract]

General Motors Company (sometimes referred to in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q as we, our, us, ourselves, the Company, General Motors or GM) designs, builds and sells trucks, crossovers, cars and automobile parts and provides software-enabled services and subscriptions worldwide. Additionally, we are investing in and growing an autonomous vehicle (AV) business. We also provide automotive financing services through General Motors Financial Company, Inc. (GM Financial). We analyze the results of our operations through the following segments: GM North America (GMNA), GM International (GMI), Cruise, and GM Financial. Cruise is our global segment responsible for the development and commercialization of AV technology. Nonsegment operations are classified as Corporate. Corporate includes certain centrally recorded income and costs such as interest, income taxes, corporate expenditures and certain nonsegment-specific revenues and expenses.

The condensed consolidated financial statements are prepared in conformity with U.S. GAAP pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for interim financial information. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and notes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. The condensed consolidated financial statements include all adjustments, which consist of normal recurring adjustments and transactions or events discretely impacting the interim periods, considered necessary by management to fairly state our results of operations, financial position and cash flows. The operating results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for any other interim period or for the full year. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our 2021 Form 10-K. Except for per share amounts or as otherwise specified, amounts presented within tables are stated in millions. Certain columns and rows may not add due to rounding.

Principles of Consolidation

Principles of Consolidation We consolidate entities that we control due to ownership of a majority voting interest and we consolidate variable interest entities (VIEs) when we are the primary beneficiary. All intercompany balances and transactions are eliminated in consolidation. Our share of earnings or losses of nonconsolidated affiliates is included in our consolidated operating results using the equity method of accounting when we are able to exercise significant influence over the operating and financial decisions of the affiliate.

GM Financial

GM Financial The amounts presented for GM Financial are adjusted to reflect the impact on GM Financial's deferred tax positions and provision for income taxes resulting from the inclusion of GM Financial in our consolidated tax return and to eliminate the effect of transactions between GM Financial and the other members of the consolidated group. Accordingly, the amounts presented will differ from those presented by GM Financial on a stand-alone basis.

Stock Incentive Plans

Stock Incentive Plans Our stock incentive plans include Restricted Stock Units (RSUs), Restricted Stock Awards (RSAs), Performance Stock Units (PSUs), stock options and awards that may be settled in our stock, the stock of our subsidiaries or in cash. We measure and record compensation expense based on the fair value of GM or Cruise's common stock on the date of grant for RSUs, RSAs and PSUs and the grant date fair value, determined utilizing a lattice model or the Black-Scholes formula for stock options and PSUs. We record compensation cost for service-based RSUs, RSAs, PSUs and service-based stock options on a straight-line basis over the entire vesting period, or for retirement eligible employees over the requisite service period. In March 2022, all outstanding RSUs that settle in Cruise’s common stock were modified to remove the liquidity vesting condition. Prospectively, RSUs that will settle in Cruise’s common stock will vest solely upon satisfaction of a service condition. Compensation cost for awards that do not have an established accounting grant date, but for which the service inception date has been established, or are settled in cash is based generally on the fair value of GM or Cruise's common stock at the end of each reporting period. Compensation cost is also recorded on stock issued to settle awards based on the fair value of Cruise's common stock until such time that the stock has been issued for more than six months. We use the graded vesting method to record compensation cost for stock options with market conditions over the lesser of the vesting period or the time period an employee becomes eligible to retain the award at retirement.

Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted

Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted In March 2022, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2022-02 "Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Troubled Debt Restructurings and Vintage Disclosures" (ASU 2022-02), which eliminates the accounting guidance for troubled debt restructurings (TDRs) by creditors that have adopted ASU 2016-13, "Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments" and enhances certain disclosure requirements. The adoption of ASU 2022-02 is expected to be insignificant.