Summary of Accounting Policies (Policies)	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2015
Basis of Accounting and Intercompany Transactions [Abstract]
Basis of Accounting and Intercompany Transactions, Policy [Policy Text Block]	We show certain of our financial statements on both a consolidated and a sector basis for our Automotive and Financial Services sectors. Intercompany items have been eliminated in both the consolidated and sector balance sheets. Where the presentation of these intercompany eliminations or consolidated adjustments differs between the consolidated and sector financial statements, reconciliations of certain line items are explained below in this Note or in the related financial statements and footnotes.
Reclassifications [Abstract]
Reclassifications, Policy [Policy Text Block]	We reclassified certain prior year amounts in our consolidated financial statements to conform to current year presentation.
Finance Loans and Leases Receivable [Abstract]
Finance Loans and Leases Receivable, Policy [Policy Text Block]	For all finance receivables, we define “past due” as any payment, including principal and interest, that is at least 31 days past the contractual due date.
Financing Receivable Impaired [Abstract]
Impaired Financing Receivable, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Impaired consumer receivables include accounts that have been rewritten or modified in reorganization proceedings pursuant to the U.S. Bankruptcy Code that are considered to be troubled debt restructurings (“TDRs”), as well as all accounts greater than 120 days past due. Impaired non-consumer receivables represent accounts with dealers that have weak or poor financial metrics or dealer financing that has been modified in TDRs.
Inventories footnote [Abstract]
Inventory, Policy [Policy Text Block]	All inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. Cost for a substantial portion of U.S. inventories is determined on a last-in, first-out (“LIFO”) basis. LIFO was used for 32% and 28% of total inventories at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively. Cost of other inventories is determined by costing methods that approximate a first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) basis.
Income Taxes [Abstract]
Income Tax, Policy [Policy Text Block]	For interim tax reporting we estimate one single effective tax rate for tax jurisdictions not subject to a valuation allowance, which is applied to the year-to-date ordinary income/(loss). Tax effects of significant unusual or extraordinary items are excluded from the estimated annual effective tax rate calculation and recognized in the interim period in which they occur.
Commitments and Contingencies [Abstract]
Commitments and Contingencies, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Guarantees and indemnifications are recorded at fair value at their inception. We accrue obligations for warranty costs and field service actions (i.e., safety recalls, emission recalls, and other product campaigns) at the time of sale. We establish estimates for warranty and field service action obligations using a patterned estimation model using historical information regarding the nature, frequency, and average cost of claims for each vehicle line by model year. We reevaluate the adequacy of our accruals on a regular basis and any revisions to our estimated obligation for warranties and field service actions are reported as Changes in accrual related to pre-existing warranties in the table below. We accrue for matters when losses are deemed probable and reasonably estimable

Summary of Accounting Policies (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Basis of Accounting and Intercompany Transactions [Abstract]

Basis of Accounting and Intercompany Transactions, Policy [Policy Text Block]

We show certain of our financial statements on both a consolidated and a sector basis for our Automotive and Financial Services sectors. Intercompany items have been eliminated in both the consolidated and sector balance sheets. Where the presentation of these intercompany eliminations or consolidated adjustments differs between the consolidated and sector financial statements, reconciliations of certain line items are explained below in this Note or in the related financial statements and footnotes.

Reclassifications [Abstract]

Reclassifications, Policy [Policy Text Block]

We reclassified certain prior year amounts in our consolidated financial statements to conform to current year presentation.

Finance Loans and Leases Receivable [Abstract]

Finance Loans and Leases Receivable, Policy [Policy Text Block]

For all finance receivables, we define “past due” as any payment, including principal and interest, that is at least 31 days past the contractual due date.

Financing Receivable Impaired [Abstract]

Impaired Financing Receivable, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Impaired consumer receivables include accounts that have been rewritten or modified in reorganization proceedings pursuant to the U.S. Bankruptcy Code that are considered to be troubled debt restructurings (“TDRs”), as well as all accounts greater than 120 days past due. Impaired non-consumer receivables represent accounts with dealers that have weak or poor financial metrics or dealer financing that has been modified in TDRs.

Inventories footnote [Abstract]

Inventory, Policy [Policy Text Block]

All inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. Cost for a substantial portion of U.S. inventories is determined on a last-in, first-out (“LIFO”) basis. LIFO was used for 32% and 28% of total inventories at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively. Cost of other inventories is determined by costing methods that approximate a first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) basis.

Income Taxes [Abstract]

Income Tax, Policy [Policy Text Block]

For interim tax reporting we estimate one single effective tax rate for tax jurisdictions not subject to a valuation allowance, which is applied to the year-to-date ordinary income/(loss). Tax effects of significant unusual or extraordinary items are excluded from the estimated annual effective tax rate calculation and recognized in the interim period in which they occur.

Commitments and Contingencies [Abstract]

Commitments and Contingencies, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Guarantees and indemnifications are recorded at fair value at their inception.

We accrue obligations for warranty costs and field service actions (i.e., safety recalls, emission recalls, and other product campaigns) at the time of sale. We establish estimates for warranty and field service action obligations using a patterned estimation model using historical information regarding the nature, frequency, and average cost of claims for each vehicle line by model year. We reevaluate the adequacy of our accruals on a regular basis and any revisions to our estimated obligation for warranties and field service actions are reported as Changes in accrual related to pre-existing warranties in the table below.

We accrue for matters when losses are deemed probable and reasonably estimable