Consolidated Condensed Statements of Operations (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Consolidated Condensed Statements of Operations [Abstract]
Product revenues	$ 136,153	$ 77,137	$ 265,679	$ 112,933
Cost of sales	101,940	57,918	199,017	83,258
Gross margin	34,213	19,219	66,662	29,675
Operating expenses:
Research and development	10,577	4,740	20,778	7,401
Research and development reimbursements	(665)	(154)	(1,107)	(346)
Net research and development expenses	9,912	4,586	19,671	7,055
Acquisition transaction expenses		1,426		5,180
Selling, general and administrative	15,439	9,183	29,412	12,547
Total operating expenses	25,351	15,195	49,083	24,782
Operating income	8,862	4,024	17,579	4,893
Interest income (expense)	(1,048)	(1,246)	(2,184)	(1,237)
Debt retirement expense		(967)		(967)
Revaluation of derivatives	(1,423)	(1,269)	(63)	(1,269)
Foreign currency gain	3,289	1,235	2,778	1,406
Other income	239	414	318	470
Earnings before income tax	9,919	2,191	18,428	3,296
Income tax expense	2,911	1,373	5,155	3,144
Net income	7,008	818	13,273	152
Loss (gain) attributable to non-controlling interest	(1,432)	523	(2,819)	523
Net income attributable to Amerigon, Inc.	5,576	1,341	10,454	675
Convertible preferred stock dividends	(1,840)	(2,923)	(4,005)	(2,923)
Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders	$ 3,736	$ (1,582)	$ 6,449	$ (2,248)
Basic earnings (loss) per share	$ 0.13	$ (0.07)	$ 0.24	$ (0.10)
Diluted earnings (loss) per share	$ 0.12	$ (0.07)	$ 0.23	$ (0.10)
Weighted average number of shares - basic	29,568	22,208	27,023	22,146
Weighted average number of shares - diluted	30,103	22,208	27,641	22,146