| **Segment reporting**                                 | 6 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            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| **Segment Reporting Information, Revenue [Abstract]** | Â                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    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| Segment reporting                                     | Segment reportingThe following is a description of our four reporting segments:•Our Truck segment manufactures and distributes a full line of Class 4 through 8 trucks, buses and military vehicles under the International and IC Bus (“IC”) brands. Our Truck segment also produces chassis for motor homes and commercial step-van vehicles under the Workhorse Custom Chassis (“WCC”) brand and recreational vehicles under the Monaco family of brands. In an effort to strengthen and maintain our dealer network, this segment occasionally acquires and operates dealer locations for the purpose of transitioning ownership.•Our Engine segment designs and manufactures diesel engines for use globally, in Class 3 through 8 vehicles, as well as off-road applications.  In North America, these engines primarily go into our Class 6 and 7 medium trucks and buses and Class 8 heavy trucks, and are sold to original equipment manufacturers (“OEMs”).  In addition, our Engine segment produces diesel engines in Brazil primarily for distribution in South America under the MWM brand for sale to OEMs. In all other areas of the world, including North America, engines are sold under the MaxxForce brand name.  To control cost and technology, Engine has expanded its operations to included Pure Power Technologies, a components company focused on air, fuel, and aftertreatment systems to meet more stringent Euro and EPA emission standards. Also included in the Engine segment are the operating results of BDP, which manages the sourcing, merchandising, and distribution of service parts for vehicles we and Ford sell in North America.•Our Parts segment provides customers with proprietary products needed to support the International commercial and military truck, IC bus, WCC chassis, and MaxxForce engine lines. Our Parts segment also provides a wide selection of other standard truck, trailer, and engine aftermarket parts. At April 30, 2011, this segment operated eleven regional parts distribution centers that provide 24-hour availability and shipment.•Our Financial Services segment provides retail, wholesale, and lease financing of products sold by the Truck and Parts segments and their dealers within the U.S. and Mexico, as well as financing for wholesale accounts and selected retail accounts receivable. Corporate contains those items that are not included in our four segments. Segment Profit (Loss)We define segment profit (loss) as net income (loss) attributable to Navistar International Corporation excluding income tax benefit (expense). Our results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year. Selected financial information is as follows:  Truck Engine Parts FinancialServices(A) CorporateandEliminations Total(in millions)            Three Months Ended April 30, 2011            External sales and revenues, net $2,262 $524 $512 $57 $— $3,355Intersegment sales and revenues(B) 9 431 50 26 (516) —Total sales and revenues, net $2,271 $955 $562 $83 $(516) $3,355Net income attributable to NIC $92 $2 $74 $40 $(134) $74Income tax expense — — — — 5 5Segment profit(B)(C) $92 $2 $74 $40 $(129) $79Depreciation and amortization $38 $30 $3 $6 $4 $81Interest expense — — — 26 36 62Equity in income (loss) of non-consolidated affiliates (17) (2) 3 — — (16)Capital expenditures(D) 22 52 3 — 13 90  Truck Engine Parts FinancialServices(A) CorporateandEliminations Total(in millions)            Three Months Ended April 30, 2010 (Revised)(E)            External sales and revenues, net $1,847 $444 $399 $53 $— $2,743Intersegment sales and revenues — 233 48 23 (304) —Total sales and revenues, net $1,847 $677 $447 $76 $(304) $2,743Net income attributable to NIC $76 $15 $58 $16 $(122) $43Income tax benefit — — — — 10 10Segment profit(C) $76 $15 $58 $16 $(132) $33Depreciation and amortization $40 $27 $2 $7 $3 $79Interest expense — — — 29 35 64Equity in loss of non-consolidated affiliates (11) (2) — — — (13)Capital expenditures(D) 24 11 2 — 2 39Six Months Ended April 30, 2011            External sales and revenues, net $4,053 $980 $958 $107 $— $6,098Intersegment sales and revenues(B) 18 758 99 49 (924) —Total sales and revenues, net $4,071 $1,738 $1,057 $156 $(924) $6,098Net income (loss) attributable to NIC $124 $(6) $130 $72 $(252) $68Income tax expense — — — — 5 5Segment profit (loss)(B)(C) $124 $(6) $130 $72 $(247) $73Depreciation and amortization $75 $59 $5 $13 $9 $161Interest expense — — — 56 69 125Equity in income (loss) of non-consolidated affiliates (35) (2) 4 — — (33)Capital expenditures(D) 38 84 4 — 59 185Six Months Ended April 30, 2010 (Revised)(E)            External sales and revenues, net $3,563 $1,069 $816 $104 $— $5,552Intersegment sales and revenues(B) 1 429 98 47 (575) —Total sales and revenues, net $3,564 $1,498 $914 $151 $(575) $5,552Net income attributable to NIC $111 $69 $137 $28 $(283) $62Income tax benefit — — — — 2 2Segment profit(C) $111 $69 $137 $28 $(285) $60Depreciation and amortization $80 $53 $3 $15 $7 $158Interest expense — — — 61 70 131Equity in income (loss) of non-consolidated affiliates (18) (2) 1 — — (19)Capital expenditures(D) 34 34 4 1 5 78As of April 30, 2011            Segment assets $2,623 $1,820 $725 $3,553 $1,245 $9,966As of October 31, 2010            Segment assets 2,457 1,715 811 3,497 1,250 9,730_______________ (A)Total sales and revenues in the Financial Services segment include interest revenues of $82 million and $153 million for the three and six months ended April 30, 2011, respectively, and $65 million and $135 million for the three and six months ended April 30, 2010, respectively.(B)Beginning in the second quarter of 2011, certain purchases from the Engine segment by the Parts segment are recorded at market-based pricing.  All other intersegment purchases from the Truck and Engine by the Parts segment continue to be recorded at standard production cost.  The effect of this change did not have a material impact on our segment reporting. (C)In the first quarter of 2011, we began allocating gains and losses on commodities derivatives to the segment to which the underlying commodities relate. Previously, the impacts of commodities derivatives were not material and were recorded within Corporate.(D)Exclusive of purchase of equipment leased to others.(E)Certain amounts have been revised to reflect a retrospective change in accounting principle. See Note 1, Summary of significant accounting policies.The following is information about our two customers from which we derived more than 10% of our consolidated Sales and revenues, net:•Sales of vehicles and service parts to the U.S. government were 14% and 12% of consolidated sales and revenues for the three and six months ended April 30, 2011, respectively, and 12% and 11%, for the same periods in 2010, and were recorded in the Truck and Parts segments.•Sales of diesel engines, trucks and parts to Ford were 12% of consolidated sales and revenues for the six months ended April 30, 2010, and were recorded in the Truck and Engine segme |

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| - Definition
This element may be used to capture the complete disclosure of reporting segments including data and tables. Reportable segments include those that meet any of the following quantitative thresholds a) it's reported revenue, including sales to external customers and intersegment sales or transfers is 10% or more of the combined revenue, internal and external, of all operating segments b) the absolute amount of its reported profit or loss is 10 percent or more of the greater, in absolute amount of 1) the combined reported profit of all operating segments that did not report a loss or 2) the combined reported loss of all operating segments that did report a loss c) its assets are 10 percent or more of the combined assets of all operating segments.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 131
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| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationRevenueAbstract**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap**Data Type:**xbrli:stringItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |