| **Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholder's Equity (USD $)In Millions** | Total   | Common stock [Member] | Additional paid-in capital [Member] | Retained earnings [Member] | Accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss) [Member] | Noncontrolling interests [Member] |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------|-----------------------|-------------------------------------|----------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
| Balance at Dec. 31, 2010                                                          | $ 3,781 | $ 745                 | $ 2                                 | $ 2,734                    | $ 217                                                  | $ 83                              |
| Profit of consolidated companies                                                  | 198     |                  |                                | 190                        |                                                   | 8                                 |
| Dividend paid to Cat Inc.                                                         | (300)   |                  |                                | (300)                      |                                                   |                              |
| Foreign currency translation, net of tax                                          | 251     |                  |                                |                       | 249                                                    | 2                                 |
| Derivative financial instruments, net of tax                                      | 8       |                  |                                |                       | 8                                                      |                              |
| Balance at Jun. 30, 2011                                                          | 3,938   | 745                   | 2                                   | 2,624                      | 474                                                    | 93                                |
| Balance at Dec. 31, 2011                                                          | 3,470   | 745                   | 2                                   | 2,512                      | 116                                                    | 95                                |
| Profit of consolidated companies                                                  | 229     |                  |                                | 224                        |                                                   | 5                                 |
| Dividend paid to Cat Inc.                                                         | (250)   |                  |                                | (250)                      |                                                   |                              |
| Foreign currency translation, net of tax                                          | (61)    |                  |                                |                       | (61)                                                   |                         |
| Derivative financial instruments, net of tax                                      | 0       |                  |                                |                       | 0                                                      |                              |
| Balance at Jun. 30, 2012                                                          | $ 3,388 | $ 745                 | $ 2                                 | $ 2,486                    | $ 55                                                   | $ 100                             |

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| - Definition
Net of tax effect change in accumulated gains and losses from derivative instruments designated and qualifying as the effective portion of cash flow hedges after taxes. A cash flow hedge is a hedge of the exposure to variability in the cash flows of a recognized asset or liability or a forecasted transaction that is attributable to a particular risk. The change includes an entity's share of an equity investee's increase or decrease in deferred hedging gains or losses. While for technical reasons this element has no balance attribute, the default assumption is a credit balance consistent with its label.
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| - Definition
Adjustment that results from the process of translating subsidiary financial statements and foreign equity investments into the reporting currency of the reporting entity, net of tax.
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|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The cash outflow from the entity's earnings to the shareholders.
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|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The consolidated profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, including the portion attributable to the noncontrolling interest.
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|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Total of Stockholders' Equity (deficit) items, net of receivables from officers, directors, owners, and affiliates of the entity including portions attributable to both the parent and noncontrolling interests (previously referred to as minority interest), if any. The entity including portions attributable to the parent and noncontrolling interests is sometimes referred to as the economic entity. This excludes temporary equity and is sometimes called permanent equity.
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