| **Goodwill and other intangible assets, net (Tables)**                                     | 12 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
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| **8. Goodwill and other intangible assets, net [Abstract]**                                |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
| Schedule of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Table Text Block]                              | Information regarding our intangible assets that are subject to amortization at October 31, 2012 and 2011 is as follows:  As of October 31, 2012(in millions)Customer Base and Relationships  Trademarks, Patents and Other Total Gross carrying value$93 $101 $194Accumulated amortization(47) (31) (78)Net of amortization$46 $70 $116 As of October 31, 2011(in millions)Customer Base and Relationships  Trademarks, Patents and Other Total Gross carrying value$135 $104 $239Accumulated amortization(52) (20) (72)Net of amortization$83 $84 167                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| Schedule of Goodwill [Table Text Block]                                                    | Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for each operating segment are as follows: (in millions)Truck  Engine  Parts  Total As of October 31, 2009$74 $206 $38 $318Currency translation— 5 — 5Adjustments(A)— (6) — (6)Acquisitions7 — — 7As of October 31, 2010$81 $205 $38 $324Currency translation— 2 — 2Adjustments(A)— (7) — (7)As of October 31, 2011$81 $200 $38 $319Currency translation— (33) — (33)Adjustments(A)— (6) — (6)As of October 31, 2012$81 $161 $38 $280_________________________(A)Adjustments to goodwill primarily result from the tax benefit attributable to the amortization of tax deductible goodwill in excess of goodwill recorded for financial statement purposes as measured in the IIAA balance sheet immediately after its acquisition in 2005. |
| Schedule of Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets [Table Text Block]                          | Information regarding our intangible assets that are not subject to amortization as of October 31 is as follows: (in millions)2012 2011Dealer franchise rights$5 $7Trademarks50 60Intangible assets not subject to amortization$55 $67                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
| Schedule of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Future Amortization Expense [Table Text Block] | We recorded amortization expense for our finite-lived intangible assets of $25 million, $29 million, and $27 million for the years ended October 31, 2012, 2011, and 2010, respectively. Future estimated amortization expense for our finite-lived intangible assets for the remaining years is as follows: (in millions)EstimatedAmortization 2013$22201421201517201615201714Thereafter27                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |

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| - Definition
Tabular disclosure of the amount of amortization expense expected to be recorded in succeeding fiscal years for finite-lived intangible assets.
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No definition available.
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| - Definition
Tabular disclosure of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life, by either major class or business segment.
+ References
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| - Definition
Tabular disclosure of goodwill by reportable segment and in total which includes a rollforward schedule.
+ References
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Tabular disclosure of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance and exist in perpetuity, by either major class or business segment.
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