Nature of Operations and Basis of Presentation (Notes)	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2015
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. 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, 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 2014 Form 10-K. Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted In May 2014 the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update 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 and requires expanded disclosures. ASU 2014-09 was originally effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after December 15, 2016 and interim periods therein. In August 2015 the FASB issued ASU 2015-14 which defers the effective date of ASU 2014-09 one year making it effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after December 15, 2017 while also providing for early adoption but not before the original effective date. We are currently assessing the impact the adoption of ASU 2014-09 will have on our 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.

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, 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 2014 Form 10-K.

Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted

In May 2014 the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update 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 and requires expanded disclosures. ASU 2014-09 was originally effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after December 15, 2016 and interim periods therein. In August 2015 the FASB issued ASU 2015-14 which defers the effective date of ASU 2014-09 one year making it effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after December 15, 2017 while also providing for early adoption but not before the original effective date. We are currently assessing the impact the adoption of ASU 2014-09 will have on our consolidated financial statements.