Fair Value Measurements Balance Sheet Grouping (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Oct. 31, 2011		Oct. 31, 2010
Manufacturing [Member] | Senior Notes [Member]
Liabilities
Stated interest rate	8.25%
Manufacturing [Member] | Senior Subordinated Convertible Notes [Member]
Liabilities
Stated interest rate	3.00%
Manufacturing [Member] | Tax Exempt Bond [Member]
Liabilities
Stated interest rate	6.50%
Carrying Value [Member]
Assets
Finance receivables	$ 2,141		$ 2,465
Notes receivable	47		40
Carrying Value [Member] | Manufacturing [Member] | Senior Notes [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term debt	967		965
Carrying Value [Member] | Manufacturing [Member] | Senior Subordinated Convertible Notes [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term debt	497	[1]	476	[1]
Carrying Value [Member] | Manufacturing [Member] | Debt Of Majority-Owned Dealerships [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term debt	94		66
Carrying Value [Member] | Manufacturing [Member] | Financing Arrangements [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term debt	114		203
Carrying Value [Member] | Manufacturing [Member] | Loan Agreement [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term debt	225		225
Carrying Value [Member] | Manufacturing [Member] | Other [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term debt	39		33
Carrying Value [Member] | Manufacturing [Member] | Bank Revolvers [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term debt	40		0
Carrying Value [Member] | Financial Services [Member] | Asset-Backed Debt [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term debt	1,664		1,731
Carrying Value [Member] | Financial Services [Member] | Bank Revolvers [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term debt	1,072		974
Carrying Value [Member] | Financial Services [Member] | Commercial Paper [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term debt	70		67
Carrying Value [Member] | Financial Services [Member] | Borrowings Secured By Operating and Finance Leases [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term debt	70		112
Estimated Fair Value [Member]
Assets
Finance receivables	2,085		2,349
Notes receivable	47		40
Estimated Fair Value [Member] | Manufacturing [Member] | Senior Notes [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term debt	1,131		1,141
Estimated Fair Value [Member] | Manufacturing [Member] | Senior Subordinated Convertible Notes [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term debt	633	[1]	684	[1]
Estimated Fair Value [Member] | Manufacturing [Member] | Debt Of Majority-Owned Dealerships [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term debt	88		63
Estimated Fair Value [Member] | Manufacturing [Member] | Financing Arrangements [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term debt	112		197
Estimated Fair Value [Member] | Manufacturing [Member] | Loan Agreement [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term debt	234		234
Estimated Fair Value [Member] | Manufacturing [Member] | Other [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term debt	26		29
Estimated Fair Value [Member] | Manufacturing [Member] | Bank Revolvers [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term debt	39		0
Estimated Fair Value [Member] | Financial Services [Member] | Asset-Backed Debt [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term debt	1,695		1,773
Estimated Fair Value [Member] | Financial Services [Member] | Bank Revolvers [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term debt	1,091		984
Estimated Fair Value [Member] | Financial Services [Member] | Commercial Paper [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term debt	70		67
Estimated Fair Value [Member] | Financial Services [Member] | Borrowings Secured By Operating and Finance Leases [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term debt	$ 70		$ 113

[1] The carrying value represents the financial statement amount of the debt after allocation of the conversion feature to equity, while the fair value is based on quoted market prices for the convertible note which includes the equity feature.