Variable Interest Entity Arrangements - Carrying Values of Assets and Liabilities of Subsidiary in Consolidated Balance Sheets (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 2,665,673	$ 3,367,914	$ 4,006,593	$ 3,393,216
Accounts receivable, net	652,848	515,381
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	379,379	268,365
Total current assets	6,383,920	6,570,520
Restricted cash, net of current portion	433,841	441,722	$ 330,223	$ 268,165
Other assets	415,478	273,123
Total assets	27,271,429	28,655,372
Current liabilities
Accounts payable	2,603,498	2,390,250
Deferred revenue	536,465	1,015,253
Customer deposits	984,823	853,919
Current portion of long-term debt and capital leases	1,915,530	796,549
Total current liabilities	8,650,359	7,674,670
Deferred revenue, net of current portion	818,250	1,177,799
Long-term debt and capital leases, net of current portion	8,761,070	9,415,700
Other long-term liabilities	2,561,886	2,442,970
Operating Lease Vehicles [Member]
Current assets
Operating lease net	2,315,124	4,116,604
Solar Energy Systems [Member]
Current assets
Operating lease net	6,346,374	6,347,490
Variable Interest Entities (“VIEs”) [Member]
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	53,530	55,425
Restricted cash	37,248	33,656
Accounts receivable, net	25,680	18,204
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	10,278	9,018
Total current assets	126,736	116,303
Restricted cash, net of current portion	45,076	36,999
Other assets	38,338	29,555
Total assets	5,789,070	5,595,267
Current liabilities
Accounts payable	32	32
Accrued liabilities and other	81,816	51,652
Deferred revenue	16,795	59,412
Customer deposits	3,009	726
Current portion of long-term debt and capital leases	468,158	196,531
Total current liabilities	569,810	308,353
Deferred revenue, net of current portion	226,601	323,919
Long-term debt and capital leases, net of current portion	1,000,720	625,934
Other long-term liabilities	29,310	30,536
Total liabilities	1,826,441	1,288,742
Variable Interest Entities (“VIEs”) [Member] \| Operating Lease Vehicles [Member]
Current assets
Operating lease net	499,852	337,089
Variable Interest Entities (“VIEs”) [Member] \| Solar Energy Systems [Member]
Current assets
Operating lease net	$ 5,079,068	$ 5,075,321

Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of liabilities incurred (and for which invoices have typically been received) and payable to vendors for goods and services received that are used in an entity's business. Used to reflect the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer).

Name:	us-gaap_AccountsPayableCurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount due from customers or clients, within one year of the balance sheet date (or the normal operating cycle, whichever is longer), for goods or services (including trade receivables) that have been delivered or sold in the normal course of business, reduced to the estimated net realizable fair value by an allowance established by the entity of the amount it deems uncertain of collection.