Restructuring And Other Initiatives (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012 employees	Mar. 31, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012 employees
Restructuring Reserve [Abstract]
Restructuring Reserve Beginning Balance	$ 1,444,000,000	$ 1,584,000,000	$ 1,613,000,000	$ 1,802,000,000	$ 1,584,000,000
Additions	151,000,000	112,000,000	71,000,000	60,000,000
Interest accretion and other	21,000,000	24,000,000	22,000,000	31,000,000
Payments	(184,000,000)	(286,000,000)	(186,000,000)	(337,000,000)
Revisions to estimates	(7,000,000)	(14,000,000)	(8,000,000)	7,000,000
Effect of foreign currency	(33,000,000)	24,000,000	10,000,000	50,000,000
Restructuring Reserve Ending Balance	1,392,000,000	1,444,000,000	1,522,000,000	1,613,000,000	1,392,000,000
GMNA [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Abstract]
Restructuring Reserve Beginning Balance	894,000,000	884,000,000	1,062,000,000	1,135,000,000	884,000,000
Additions	13,000,000	97,000,000	8,000,000	26,000,000
Interest accretion and other	3,000,000	3,000,000	6,000,000	7,000,000
Payments	(123,000,000)	(86,000,000)	(109,000,000)	(129,000,000)
Revisions to estimates	0	(12,000,000)	(8,000,000)	7,000,000
Effect of foreign currency	(8,000,000)	8,000,000	(1,000,000)	16,000,000
Restructuring Reserve Ending Balance	779,000,000	894,000,000	958,000,000	1,062,000,000	779,000,000
Remaining Payments Including Temporary Layoffs Benefits	363,000,000		369,000,000		363,000,000
Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]
Number of Skilled Hourly Employees		1,400
Total Cost of Separation Programs		99,000,000
GMNA [Member] | Dealer Wind-Down [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Abstract]
Restructuring Reserve Beginning Balance	22,000,000	25,000,000	58,000,000	144,000,000	25,000,000
Payments	(1,000,000)	(3,000,000)	(24,000,000)	(80,000,000)
Revisions to estimates	(4,000,000)	0	(1,000,000)	(6,000,000)
Restructuring Reserve Ending Balance	17,000,000	22,000,000	33,000,000	58,000,000	17,000,000
GME [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Abstract]
Restructuring Reserve Beginning Balance	540,000,000	687,000,000	550,000,000	664,000,000	687,000,000
Additions	38,000,000	9,000,000	62,000,000	33,000,000
Interest accretion and other	18,000,000	22,000,000	16,000,000	24,000,000
Payments	(43,000,000)	(192,000,000)	(76,000,000)	(205,000,000)
Revisions to estimates	(7,000,000)	(2,000,000)	0	0
Effect of foreign currency	(26,000,000)	16,000,000	11,000,000	34,000,000
Restructuring Reserve Ending Balance	520,000,000	540,000,000	563,000,000	550,000,000	520,000,000
Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]
Total Cost of Separation Programs					313,000,000
Additional Cost Expected to Incurr					100,000,000
Number of Employees Affected	1,900				1,900
Number Of Additional Employees Affected	350				350
GMIO [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Abstract]
Restructuring Reserve Beginning Balance	4,000,000	1,000,000	1,000,000	3,000,000	1,000,000
Additions	27,000,000	4,000,000	0	0
Interest accretion and other	0	(1,000,000)	0	0
Payments	(5,000,000)	0	0	(2,000,000)
Revisions to estimates	0	0	0	0
Effect of foreign currency	0	0	0	0
Restructuring Reserve Ending Balance	26,000,000	4,000,000	1,000,000	1,000,000	26,000,000
Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]
Total Cost of Separation Programs	22,000,000
Number of Employees Affected	146				146
GMSA [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Abstract]
Restructuring Reserve Beginning Balance	6,000,000	12,000,000	0	0	12,000,000
Additions	73,000,000	2,000,000	1,000,000	1,000,000
Interest accretion and other	0	0	0	0
Payments	(13,000,000)	(8,000,000)	(1,000,000)	(1,000,000)
Revisions to estimates	0	0	0	0
Effect of foreign currency	1,000,000	0	0	0
Restructuring Reserve Ending Balance	67,000,000	6,000,000	0	0	67,000,000
Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]
Total Cost of Separation Programs	$ 71,000,000