| **Finance Receivables (Tables)**                                    | 9 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
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| **Receivables [Abstract]**                                          | Â                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
| Finance receivables by major classification                         | Our finance receivables by major classification are as follows:  July 31, 2011 October 31, 2010(in millions)    Retail portfolio $1,617 $1,917Wholesale portfolio 1,217 1,006Amounts due from sales of receivables — 53Total finance receivables 2,834 2,976Less: Allowance for doubtful accounts 39 61Total finance receivables, net 2,795 2,915Less: Current portion, net(A) 1,996 1,770Noncurrent portion, net $799 $1,145_______________ (A)The current portion of finance receivables is computed based on contractual maturities. Actual cash collections typically vary from the contractual cash flows because of prepayments, extensions, delinquencies, credit losses, and renewals.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
| Components of available wholesale note trust funding facilities     | Components of available wholesale note trust funding facilities were as follows:  Maturity As ofJuly 31, 2011 October 31, 2010(in millions)      Variable funding notes (“VFN”) July 2012 $500 $500Investor notes October 2012 350 350Investor notes January 2012 250 250Total wholesale note funding   $1,100 $1,100                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| Key economic assumptions related to valuation of retained interests | The key economic assumptions related to the valuation of our retained interests related to our retail account securitization are as follows:   October 31, 2010Discount rate 7.3%Estimated credit losses —Payment speed (percent of portfolio per month) 88.5%                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
| Finance revenues derived from receivables                           | Finance revenues derived from receivables that are both on and off-balance sheet consist of the following:   Three Months Ended July 31, Nine Months Ended July 31,  2011 2010 2011 2010(in millions)        Finance revenues from on-balance sheet receivables:        Retail notes and finance leases revenue $32 $46 $108 $144Operating lease revenue 8 8 23 25Wholesale notes interest 25 9 76 18Retail and wholesale accounts interest 8 5 20 14Total finance revenues from on-balance sheet receivables 73 68 227 201Revenues from off-balance sheet securitization:        Fair value adjustments — 14 1 35Excess spread income — 10 — 30Servicing fees revenue — 2 — 6Gain (loss) on sale of finance receivables — (12) 1 (39)Securitization income — 14 2 32Gross finance revenues 73 82 229 233Less: Intercompany revenues 26 23 75 70Finance revenues $47 $59 $154 $163 |
| Cash flows from off-balance sheet securitization transactions       | Cash flows from off-balance sheet securitization transactions for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2010 are as follows:   Three Months Ended July 31, 2010 Nine Months Ended July 31, 2010(in millions)    Proceeds from finance receivables $665 $2,692Servicing fees 2 6Cash from net excess spread 10 31Net cash from securitization transactions $677 $2,729                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |

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| - Definition
Cash Flows From Off Balance Sheet Securitization Transactions [Table Text Block]
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| - Definition
Components Of Available Wholesale Note Trust Funding Facilities [Table Text Block]
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| - Definition
Finance Revenues Derived From Receivables [Table Text Block]
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| - Definition
Tabular disclosure of the various types of trade accounts and notes receivable and for each the gross carrying value, allowance, and net carrying value as of the balance sheet date. Presentation is categorized by current, noncurrent and unclassified receivables.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 3, 4 -Article 5Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.3,4) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682
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| - Definition
Tabular disclosure of all information related to the key inputs and assumptions (including, at a minimum, but not limited to, and if applicable, quantitative information about discount rates, expected prepayments including the expected weighted-average life of prepayable financial assets, and anticipated credit losses) used in measuring the fair value of assets or liabilities that relate to the transferor's continuing involvement with transferred financial assets, as of the balance sheet date.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 140 -Paragraph 17 -Subparagraph i(2) -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.  This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 860 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6942082&loc=d3e107314-111719
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