Nature of Operations and Basis of Presentation	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2014
Nature of Operations and Basis of Presentation [Abstract]
Nature Of Operations and Basis of Presentation [Text Block]	Nature of Operations and Basis of Presentation General Motors Company is sometimes referred to in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q as “we,” “our,” “us,” “ourselves,” the “Company,” “General Motors,” or “GM.” We design, build and sell cars, trucks and automobile parts worldwide. We also provide automotive financing services through General Motors Financial Company, Inc. (GM Financial). We analyze the results of our business through the following segments: GM North America (GMNA), GM Europe (GME), GM International Operations (GMIO), GM South America (GMSA) and GM Financial. Nonsegment operations are classified as Corporate. Corporate includes certain centrally recorded income and costs, such as interest, income taxes and corporate expenditures and certain nonsegment specific revenues and expenses. As discussed in Note 8 we announced recalls of approximately 34 million vehicles and recorded recall-related charges of approximately $2.7 billion in the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and as discussed in Note 10 we announced the creation of a compensation program related to faulty ignition switches and recorded a charge of $400 million in the three months ended June 30, 2014. Basis of Presentation The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been 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 accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include all adjustments, composed 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 consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 (2013 Form 10-K) as filed with the SEC. Certain prior year amounts were reclassified to conform to our current year presentation. In the three months ended March 31, 2014 we changed our managerial and financial reporting structure to reclassify the results of our Russian subsidiaries previously reported in our GMIO segment to our GME segment. We have retrospectively revised the segment presentation for all periods presented. Refer to Note 15 for additional information on our segment reporting. Change in Accounting Estimate We have historically accrued estimated costs related to recall campaigns in GMNA when they are probable and reasonably estimable, which typically occurred once it was determined a specific recall campaign was needed and announced. During the three months ended June 30, 2014, following the significant increase in the number of vehicles subject to recall in GMNA, the results of our ongoing comprehensive safety review, additional engineering analysis, the creation of a new Global Product Integrity organization, the appointment of a new Global Vice President of Vehicle Safety responsible for the safety development of our vehicle systems and our overall commitment to customer satisfaction, we accumulated sufficient historical data in GMNA to support the use of an actuarial-based estimation technique for recall campaigns. As such, we now accrue at the time of vehicle sale in GMNA the costs for recall campaigns. Based on expanded historical data, we recorded a catch-up adjustment of $874 million in Automotive cost of sales in the three months ended June 30, 2014 to adjust the estimate for recall costs for previously sold vehicles. In other geographical regions the historical claims data did not support the application of an actuarial-based model; therefore, recall campaigns are accrued when probable and reasonably estimable, which typically occurs once it is determined a specific recall campaign is needed and announced. Recently Adopted Accounting Principles On January 1, 2014 we adopted Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2013-11, “Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists” (ASU 2013-11) which was issued to eliminate diversity in practice. This update requires that companies net their unrecognized tax benefits against all same-jurisdiction net operating losses or tax credit carryforwards that would be used to settle the position with a tax authority. The adoption of ASU 2013-11 did not have an effect on our condensed consolidated financial statements. Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted In May 2014 the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” (ASU 2014-09) which requires companies to recognize revenue when a customer obtains control rather than when companies have transferred substantially all risks and rewards of a good or service. This update is effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after December 15, 2016 and interim periods therein and requires expanded disclosures. We are currently assessing the impact the adoption of ASU 2014-09 will have on our condensed consolidated financial statements.

Nature of Operations and Basis of Presentation

General Motors Company is sometimes referred to in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q as “we,” “our,” “us,” “ourselves,” the “Company,” “General Motors,” or “GM.” We design, build and sell cars, trucks and automobile parts worldwide. We also provide automotive financing services through General Motors Financial Company, Inc. (GM Financial). We analyze the results of our business through the following segments: GM North America (GMNA), GM Europe (GME), GM International Operations (GMIO), GM South America (GMSA) and GM Financial. Nonsegment operations are classified as Corporate. Corporate includes certain centrally recorded income and costs, such as interest, income taxes and corporate expenditures and certain nonsegment specific revenues and expenses.

As discussed in Note 8 we announced recalls of approximately 34 million vehicles and recorded recall-related charges of approximately $2.7 billion in the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and as discussed in Note 10 we announced the creation of a compensation program related to faulty ignition switches and recorded a charge of $400 million in the three months ended June 30, 2014.

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been 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 accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include all adjustments, composed 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 consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 (2013 Form 10-K) as filed with the SEC. Certain prior year amounts were reclassified to conform to our current year presentation.

In the three months ended March 31, 2014 we changed our managerial and financial reporting structure to reclassify the results of our Russian subsidiaries previously reported in our GMIO segment to our GME segment. We have retrospectively revised the segment presentation for all periods presented. Refer to Note 15 for additional information on our segment reporting.

Change in Accounting Estimate

We have historically accrued estimated costs related to recall campaigns in GMNA when they are probable and reasonably estimable, which typically occurred once it was determined a specific recall campaign was needed and announced. During the three months ended June 30, 2014, following the significant increase in the number of vehicles subject to recall in GMNA, the results of our ongoing comprehensive safety review, additional engineering analysis, the creation of a new Global Product Integrity organization, the appointment of a new Global Vice President of Vehicle Safety responsible for the safety development of our vehicle systems and our overall commitment to customer satisfaction, we accumulated sufficient historical data in GMNA to support the use of an actuarial-based estimation technique for recall campaigns. As such, we now accrue at the time of vehicle sale in GMNA the costs for recall campaigns. Based on expanded historical data, we recorded a catch-up adjustment of $874 million in Automotive cost of sales in the three months ended June 30, 2014 to adjust the estimate for recall costs for previously sold vehicles. In other geographical regions the historical claims data did not support the application of an actuarial-based model; therefore, recall campaigns are accrued when probable and reasonably estimable, which typically occurs once it is determined a specific recall campaign is needed and announced.

Recently Adopted Accounting Principles

On January 1, 2014 we adopted Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2013-11, “Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists” (ASU 2013-11) which was issued to eliminate diversity in practice. This update requires that companies net their unrecognized tax benefits against all same-jurisdiction net operating losses or tax credit carryforwards that would be used to settle the position with a tax authority. The adoption of ASU 2013-11 did not have an effect on our condensed consolidated financial statements.

Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted

In May 2014 the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” (ASU 2014-09) which requires companies to recognize revenue when a customer obtains control rather than when companies have transferred substantially all risks and rewards of a good or service. This update is effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after December 15, 2016 and interim periods therein and requires expanded disclosures. We are currently assessing the impact the adoption of ASU 2014-09 will have on our condensed consolidated financial statements.