Fair Value Measurements (Balance Sheet Grouping) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Jan. 31, 2012		Oct. 31, 2011
Manufacturing [Member] | Senior Notes [Member]
Liabilities
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	8.25%
Manufacturing [Member] | Convertible Subordinated Debt [Member]
Liabilities
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	3.00%
Manufacturing [Member] | Tax Exempt Bond [Member]
Liabilities
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	6.50%
Carrying Value [Member]
Assets
Finance receivables	$ 856		$ 958
Notes receivable	43		47
Carrying Value [Member] | Manufacturing [Member] | Senior Notes [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	871		967
Carrying Value [Member] | Manufacturing [Member] | Convertible Subordinated Debt [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	502	[1]	497	[1]
Carrying Value [Member] | Manufacturing [Member] | Debt Of Majority-Owned Dealerships [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	92		94
Carrying Value [Member] | Manufacturing [Member] | Financing Arrangements [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	137		114
Carrying Value [Member] | Manufacturing [Member] | Tax Exempt Bond [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	225		225
Carrying Value [Member] | Manufacturing [Member] | Promissory Note [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	38		40
Carrying Value [Member] | Manufacturing [Member] | Asset-Based Credit Facility [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	100		0
Carrying Value [Member] | Manufacturing [Member] | Other [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	42		39
Carrying Value [Member] | Financial Services [Member] | Asset-Backed Debt [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	1,371		1,664
Carrying Value [Member] | Financial Services [Member] | Bank Revolvers [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	997		1,072
Carrying Value [Member] | Financial Services [Member] | Commercial Paper [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	63		70
Carrying Value [Member] | Financial Services [Member] | Borrowings Secured By Operating and Finance Leases [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	72		70
Estimated Fair Value [Member]
Assets
Finance receivables	805		902
Notes receivable	42		47
Estimated Fair Value [Member] | Manufacturing [Member] | Senior Notes [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	995		1,131
Estimated Fair Value [Member] | Manufacturing [Member] | Convertible Subordinated Debt [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	665	[1]	633	[1]
Estimated Fair Value [Member] | Manufacturing [Member] | Debt Of Majority-Owned Dealerships [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	88		88
Estimated Fair Value [Member] | Manufacturing [Member] | Financing Arrangements [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	125		112
Estimated Fair Value [Member] | Manufacturing [Member] | Tax Exempt Bond [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	246		234
Estimated Fair Value [Member] | Manufacturing [Member] | Promissory Note [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	38		39
Estimated Fair Value [Member] | Manufacturing [Member] | Asset-Based Credit Facility [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	100		0
Estimated Fair Value [Member] | Manufacturing [Member] | Other [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	39		26
Estimated Fair Value [Member] | Financial Services [Member] | Asset-Backed Debt [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	1,395		1,695
Estimated Fair Value [Member] | Financial Services [Member] | Bank Revolvers [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	985		1,091
Estimated Fair Value [Member] | Financial Services [Member] | Commercial Paper [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	63		70
Estimated Fair Value [Member] | Financial Services [Member] | Borrowings Secured By Operating and Finance Leases [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	$ 71		$ 70

[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.