Segment Information (Details 2) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Segment Reporting Revenue Reconciling Item
Sales and revenues	$ 15,981	$ 12,949
Machinery and Power Systems
Segment Reporting Revenue Reconciling Item
Sales and revenues	15,288	12,277
Financial Products
Segment Reporting Revenue Reconciling Item
Sales and revenues	777	740
Consolidating Adjustments
Segment Reporting Revenue Reconciling Item
Sales and revenues	(84)	(68)
Reportable segments
Segment Reporting Revenue Reconciling Item
Sales and revenues	15,588	12,418
Reportable segments | Machinery and Power Systems
Segment Reporting Revenue Reconciling Item
Sales and revenues	14,827	11,688
Reportable segments | Financial Products
Segment Reporting Revenue Reconciling Item
Sales and revenues	761	730
All other operating segment
Segment Reporting Revenue Reconciling Item
Sales and revenues	474	589
All other operating segment | Machinery and Power Systems
Segment Reporting Revenue Reconciling Item
Sales and revenues	474	589
Other
Segment Reporting Revenue Reconciling Item
Sales and revenues	(81)	(58)
Other | Machinery and Power Systems
Segment Reporting Revenue Reconciling Item
Sales and revenues	(13)
Other | Financial Products
Segment Reporting Revenue Reconciling Item
Sales and revenues	16	10
Other | Consolidating Adjustments
Segment Reporting Revenue Reconciling Item
Sales and revenues	$ (84)	$ (68)