Debt And Commitments - Debt Outstanding (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Debt Outstanding [Abstract]
Total Debt	$ 100,604	$ 99,488
Automotive [Member]
Debt Outstanding [Abstract]
Short-term Debt	1,254	1,033
Debt payable after one year	12,944	12,061
Total Debt	14,198	13,094
Fair value of debt	14,613	13,451
Short-term debt carried at cost which approximates fair value	365	326
Automotive [Member] \| U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) loans [Member]
Debt Outstanding [Abstract]
Debt payable within one year	591	240
Debt payable after one year	5,162	4,556
Automotive [Member] \| Other debt [Member]
Debt Outstanding [Abstract]
Debt payable within one year	298	216
Debt payable after one year	950	888
Automotive [Member] \| Public Unsecured Debt Securities [Member]
Debt Outstanding [Abstract]
Debt, principal amount	5,419	5,260
Unamortized discount	(73)	(77)
Automotive [Member] \| Convertible Notes [Member]
Debt Outstanding [Abstract]
Debt, principal amount	908	908
Unamortized discount	(151)	(172)
Automotive [Member] \| European Investment Bank (EIB) loan [Member]
Debt Outstanding [Abstract]
Debt payable after one year	729	698
Automotive [Member] \| Non-Affiliates [Member]
Debt Outstanding [Abstract]
Short-term Debt	365	559
Automotive [Member] \| Unconsolidated Affiliates [Member]
Debt Outstanding [Abstract]
Short-term Debt		18
Financial Services [Member]
Debt Outstanding [Abstract]
Short-term Debt	14,523	16,596
Unamortized discount	(141)	(152)
Fair value adjustments	867	681
Total long-term debt	71,883	69,999
Total Debt	86,406	86,595
Fair value of debt	90,004	88,823
Short-term debt carried at cost which approximates fair value	7,900	7,000
Financial Services [Member] \| Other debt [Member]
Debt Outstanding [Abstract]
Short-term Debt	1,627	1,905
Financial Services [Member] \| Asset backed commercial paper [Member]
Debt Outstanding [Abstract]
Short-term Debt	5,824	6,835
Financial Services [Member] \| Other asset backed short term debt [Member]
Debt Outstanding [Abstract]
Short-term Debt	934	2,987
Financial Services [Member] \| Floating rate demand notes [Member]
Debt Outstanding [Abstract]
Short-term Debt	4,962	4,713
Financial Services [Member] \| Commercial Paper [Member]
Debt Outstanding [Abstract]
Short-term Debt	1,176	156
Financial Services [Member] \| Unsecured Debt [Member]
Debt Outstanding [Abstract]
Debt payable within one year	3,296	6,144
Debt payable after one year	33,343	26,167
Financial Services [Member] \| Asset backed debt [Member]
Debt Outstanding [Abstract]
Debt payable within one year	14,829	16,538
Debt payable after one year	19,689	20,621
Intersector [Member]
Debt Outstanding [Abstract]
Total Debt	100,604	99,689
Intersector Eliminations [Member]
Debt Outstanding [Abstract]
Total Debt		$ (201)

Fair value adjustment as of the balance sheet date related to designated fair value hedges of unsecured debt.

No definition available.

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- Definition

Long Term Debt And Capital Lease Obligations Current And Non-current

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Amount of short-term debt carried at cost that approximates fair value.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Sum of the carrying values as of the balance sheet date of all debt, including all short-term borrowings, long-term debt, and capital lease obligations.

+ References

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- Definition

The stated principal amount of the debt instrument at time of issuance, which may vary from the carrying amount because of unamortized premium or discount.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

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-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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- Definition

This element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission.

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- Definition

The amount of debt discount (net of debt premium) that was originally recognized at the issuance of the instrument that has yet to be amortized.

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- Definition

Sum of the carrying values as of the balance sheet date of all long-term debt, which is debt initially having maturities due after one year from the balance sheet date or beyond the operating cycle, if longer, but excluding the portions thereof scheduled to be repaid within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer plus capital lease obligations due to be paid more than one year after the balance sheet date.

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-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)

-Number Topic 6

-Section H

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Obligation related to long-term debt (excluding convertible debt) and capital leases, the portion which is due in one year or less in the future.

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Reflects the total carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of debt having initial terms less than one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.

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