Fair Value Measurements (Balance Sheet Grouping) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Apr. 30, 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	$ 780		$ 958
Notes receivable	39		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	508	[1]	497	[1]
Carrying Value [Member] | Manufacturing [Member] | Debt Of Majority-Owned Dealerships [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	84		94
Carrying Value [Member] | Manufacturing [Member] | Financing Arrangements [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	132		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	36		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	49		39
Carrying Value [Member] | Financial Services [Member] | Asset-Backed Debt [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	1,284		1,664
Carrying Value [Member] | Financial Services [Member] | Bank Revolvers [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	1,060		1,072
Carrying Value [Member] | Financial Services [Member] | Commercial Paper [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	59		70
Carrying Value [Member] | Financial Services [Member] | Borrowings Secured By Operating and Finance Leases [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	66		70
Estimated Fair Value [Member]
Assets
Finance receivables	773		954
Notes receivable	37		47
Estimated Fair Value [Member] | Manufacturing [Member] | Senior Notes [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	1,011		1,131
Estimated Fair Value [Member] | Manufacturing [Member] | Convertible Subordinated Debt [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	591	[1]	633	[1]
Estimated Fair Value [Member] | Manufacturing [Member] | Debt Of Majority-Owned Dealerships [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	82		88
Estimated Fair Value [Member] | Manufacturing [Member] | Financing Arrangements [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	128		112
Estimated Fair Value [Member] | Manufacturing [Member] | Tax Exempt Bond [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	242		234
Estimated Fair Value [Member] | Manufacturing [Member] | Promissory Note [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	36		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	47		26
Estimated Fair Value [Member] | Financial Services [Member] | Asset-Backed Debt [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	1,299		1,695
Estimated Fair Value [Member] | Financial Services [Member] | Bank Revolvers [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	1,057		1,091
Estimated Fair Value [Member] | Financial Services [Member] | Commercial Paper [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	59		70
Estimated Fair Value [Member] | Financial Services [Member] | Borrowings Secured By Operating and Finance Leases [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	64		70
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Carrying Value [Member]
Assets
Finance receivables	0		0
Notes receivable	0		0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Carrying Value [Member] | Manufacturing [Member] | Senior Notes [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	1,011		1,131
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Carrying Value [Member] | Manufacturing [Member] | Convertible Subordinated Debt [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	591	[1]	633	[1]
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Carrying Value [Member] | Manufacturing [Member] | Debt Of Majority-Owned Dealerships [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	0		0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Carrying Value [Member] | Manufacturing [Member] | Financing Arrangements [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	0		0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Carrying Value [Member] | Manufacturing [Member] | Tax Exempt Bond [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	0		0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Carrying Value [Member] | Manufacturing [Member] | Promissory Note [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	0		0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Carrying Value [Member] | Manufacturing [Member] | Asset-Based Credit Facility [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	0		0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Carrying Value [Member] | Manufacturing [Member] | Other [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	0		0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Carrying Value [Member] | Financial Services [Member] | Asset-Backed Debt [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	0		0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Carrying Value [Member] | Financial Services [Member] | Bank Revolvers [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	0		0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Carrying Value [Member] | Financial Services [Member] | Commercial Paper [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	59		70
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Carrying Value [Member] | Financial Services [Member] | Borrowings Secured By Operating and Finance Leases [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	0		0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Estimated Fair Value [Member]
Assets
Finance receivables	0		0
Notes receivable	0		0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Estimated Fair Value [Member] | Manufacturing [Member] | Senior Notes [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	0		0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Estimated Fair Value [Member] | Manufacturing [Member] | Convertible Subordinated Debt [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	0	[1]	0	[1]
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Estimated Fair Value [Member] | Manufacturing [Member] | Debt Of Majority-Owned Dealerships [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	0		0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Estimated Fair Value [Member] | Manufacturing [Member] | Financing Arrangements [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	0		0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Estimated Fair Value [Member] | Manufacturing [Member] | Tax Exempt Bond [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	242		234
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Estimated Fair Value [Member] | Manufacturing [Member] | Promissory Note [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	0		0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Estimated Fair Value [Member] | Manufacturing [Member] | Asset-Based Credit Facility [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	0		0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Estimated Fair Value [Member] | Manufacturing [Member] | Other [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	0		0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Estimated Fair Value [Member] | Financial Services [Member] | Asset-Backed Debt [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	0		0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Estimated Fair Value [Member] | Financial Services [Member] | Bank Revolvers [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	0		0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Estimated Fair Value [Member] | Financial Services [Member] | Commercial Paper [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	0		0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Estimated Fair Value [Member] | Financial Services [Member] | Borrowings Secured By Operating and Finance Leases [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	0		0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Carrying Value [Member]
Assets
Finance receivables	773		954
Notes receivable	37		47
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Carrying Value [Member] | Manufacturing [Member] | Senior Notes [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	0		0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Carrying Value [Member] | Manufacturing [Member] | Convertible Subordinated Debt [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	0	[1]	0	[1]
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Carrying Value [Member] | Manufacturing [Member] | Debt Of Majority-Owned Dealerships [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	82		88
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Carrying Value [Member] | Manufacturing [Member] | Financing Arrangements [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	128		112
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Carrying Value [Member] | Manufacturing [Member] | Tax Exempt Bond [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	0		0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Carrying Value [Member] | Manufacturing [Member] | Promissory Note [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	36		39
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Carrying Value [Member] | Manufacturing [Member] | Asset-Based Credit Facility [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	100
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Carrying Value [Member] | Manufacturing [Member] | Other [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	47		26
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Carrying Value [Member] | Financial Services [Member] | Asset-Backed Debt [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	1,299		1,695
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Carrying Value [Member] | Financial Services [Member] | Bank Revolvers [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	1,057		1,091
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Carrying Value [Member] | Financial Services [Member] | Commercial Paper [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	0		0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Carrying Value [Member] | Financial Services [Member] | Borrowings Secured By Operating and Finance Leases [Member]
Liabilities
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	$ 64		$ 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.