| **Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholder's Equity (USD $)In Millions, unless otherwise specified** | Total   | Common stock | Additional paid-in capital | Retained earnings | Accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss) | Noncontrolling interests |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------|--------------|----------------------------|-------------------|-----------------------------------------------|--------------------------|
| Balance at Dec. 31, 2009 (Before adjustment)                                                                  | $ 4,143 | $ 745        | $ 2                        | $ 3,062           | $ 264                                         | $ 70                     |
| Balance (Restatement adjustment) (Cumulative-Effect Adjustment, Consolidation of Variable Interest Entity)    | (3)     |         |                       | (6)               | 3                                             | 0                        |
| Balance at Dec. 31, 2009                                                                                      | 4,140   | 745          | 2                          | 3,056             | 267                                           | 70                       |
| **Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]**                                                |    |         |                       |              |                                          |                     |
| Profit of consolidated companies                                                                              | 289     |         |                       | 278               |                                          | 11                       |
| Dividend paid to Cat Inc.                                                                                     | (600)   |         |                       | (600)             |                                          |                     |
| Foreign currency transalation, net of tax                                                                     | (75)    |         |                       |              | (77)                                          | 2                        |
| Derivative financial instruments, net of tax                                                                  | 27      |         |                       |              | 27                                            |                     |
| Balance at Dec. 31, 2010                                                                                      | 3,781   | 745          | 2                          | 2,734             | 217                                           | 83                       |
| **Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]**                                                |    |         |                       |              |                                          |                     |
| Profit of consolidated companies                                                                              | 393     |         |                       | 378               |                                          | 15                       |
| Dividend paid to Cat Inc.                                                                                     | (600)   |         |                       | (600)             |                                          |                     |
| Foreign currency transalation, net of tax                                                                     | (105)   |         |                       |              | (109)                                         | 4                        |
| Change in ownership for noncontrolling interests                                                              | (7)     |         |                       |              |                                          | (7)                      |
| Derivative financial instruments, net of tax                                                                  | 8       |         |                       |              | 8                                             |                     |
| Balance at Dec. 31, 2011                                                                                      | 3,470   | 745          | 2                          | 2,512             | 116                                           | 95                       |
| **Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]**                                                |    |         |                       |              |                                          |                     |
| Profit of consolidated companies                                                                              | 443     |         |                       | 432               |                                          | 11                       |
| Dividend paid to Cat Inc.                                                                                     | (250)   |         |                       | (250)             |                                          |                     |
| Foreign currency transalation, net of tax                                                                     | 62      |         |                       |              | 62                                            | 0                        |
| Derivative financial instruments, net of tax                                                                  | (2)     |         |                       |              | (2)                                           |                     |
| Balance at Dec. 31, 2012                                                                                      | $ 3,723 | $ 745        | $ 2                        | $ 2,694           | $ 176                                         | $ 106                    |

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| - Definition
Increase or decrease in noncontrolling interest balances due to change in ownership for noncontrolling interest
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|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Net of tax and reclassification adjustments amount of the change in accumulated gain (loss) from derivative instruments designated and qualifying as the effective portion of cash flow hedges. Also includes an entity's share of an equity investee's increase (decrease) in deferred hedging gain (loss).
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|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Net of tax and reclassification adjustments of the change in the balance sheet adjustment that results from the process of translating subsidiary financial statements and foreign equity investments into the reporting currency of the reporting entity. Also includes the following: gain (loss) on foreign currency forward exchange contracts; foreign currency transactions designated as hedges of net investment in a foreign entity and intercompany foreign currency transactions that are of a long-term nature, when the entities to the transaction are consolidated, combined, or accounted for by the equity method in the reporting enterprise's financial statements; and gain (loss) on a derivative instrument or nonderivative financial instrument that may give rise to a foreign currency transaction gain (loss) that has been designated and qualified as a hedging instrument for hedging of the foreign currency exposure of a net investment in a foreign operation.
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|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Cash outflow in the form of capital distributions and dividends to common shareholders, preferred shareholders and noncontrolling interests.
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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
Amount of stockholders' equity (deficit), net of receivables from officers, directors, owners, and affiliates of the entity, attributable to both the parent and noncontrolling interests. Amount excludes temporary equity. Alternate caption for the concept is permanent equity.
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