In many ways it seems like a silly question: Of course General Motors (GM -0.05%) is an American company. GM's headquarters is here, it has massive manufacturing and design operations here, and brands like Chevrolet and Cadillac are about as American as brands get.

But from an investing perspective, is that really the right way to think about GM nowadays? In this video, Fool.com contributor John Rosevear looks at the increasing importance of GM's non-U.S. operations – and at why anyone considering an investment in GM needs to take much more than the American market into account.