New Accounting Guidance (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Jan. 01, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
New Accounting Pronouncements
Revenues		$ 13,510	$ 11,413	$ 40,380	$ 32,566
Cost of Revenue		9,022	7,678	27,010	22,295
Other operating (income) expenses		390	348	1,028	1,751
Total operating costs		11,375	9,904	33,970	29,493
Operating profit		2,135	1,509	6,410	3,073
Consolidated profit before taxes		2,135	1,523	6,455	2,971
Provision (benefit) for income taxes		415	470	1,377	921
Profit (loss) of consolidated companies		1,720	1,053	5,078	2,050
Profit of consolidated and affiliated companies		1,727	1,061	5,099	2,058
Profit	[1]	1,727	1,059	5,099	2,053
Receivables - trade and other		7,974		7,974		$ 7,370	$ 7,436
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		1,835		1,835		2,099	1,772
Inventories		11,814		11,814		10,022	10,018
Property, plant and equipment - net		13,607		13,607		13,965	14,155
Noncurrent deferred and refundable income taxes		1,288		1,288		1,695	1,693
Accrued expenses		3,423		3,423		3,446	3,220
Customer advances		1,491		1,491		1,472	1,426
Other current liabilities		1,867		1,867		1,725	1,742
Other liabilities		3,799		3,799		3,887	4,053
Profit employed in the business		30,384		30,384		26,289	$ 26,301
Expected impact from adoption of new Lease Accounting guidance related to derecognition of assets for a Sale Lease Back transaction that qualifies for sale accounting under the new guidance		(125)		(125)
Expected impact from adoption of new Lease Accounting guidance related to derecognition of debt obligations for a Sale Lease Back transaction that qualifies for sale accounting under the new guidance		(375)		(375)
Revenue recognition
New Accounting Pronouncements
Revenues		44		(2)
Cost of Revenue		25		(10)
Other operating (income) expenses				(6)
Operating profit		19		14
Consolidated profit before taxes		19		14
Provision (benefit) for income taxes		4		3
Profit (loss) of consolidated companies		15		11
Profit of consolidated and affiliated companies		15		11
Profit		15		11
Receivables - trade and other		(37)		(37)		(66)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		333		333		327
Inventories		7		7		4
Property, plant and equipment - net						(190)
Noncurrent deferred and refundable income taxes		(1)		(1)		2
Accrued expenses		220		220		226
Customer advances		83		83		46
Other current liabilities						(17)
Other liabilities						(166)
Profit employed in the business		(1)		(1)		$ (12)
Previous Accounting Guidance
New Accounting Pronouncements
Revenues		12,719		38,194
Cost of Revenue		8,997		27,020
Other operating (income) expenses				1,034
Operating profit		2,116		6,396
Consolidated profit before taxes		2,116		6,441
Provision (benefit) for income taxes		411		1,374
Profit (loss) of consolidated companies		1,705		5,067
Profit of consolidated and affiliated companies		1,712		5,088
Profit		1,712		5,088
Receivables - trade and other		8,011		8,011
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		1,502		1,502
Inventories		11,807		11,807
Noncurrent deferred and refundable income taxes		1,289		1,289
Accrued expenses		3,203		3,203
Customer advances		1,408		1,408
Profit employed in the business		30,385		30,385
Machinery, Energy & Transportation
New Accounting Pronouncements
Revenues		$ 12,763	$ 10,713	$ 38,192	$ 30,482

[1] 1 Profit attributable to common shareholders.