The auto industry is one of the most significant industries in the world. Around 40 car makers, many of them global giants, compete fiercely in an industry that is beset by long-term over capacity. The book charts the evolution of the auto industry and presents case studies of two recent failures (Saab and Rover) and two near-failures (Nissan and Chrysler). We argue that survival in the auto industry can be explained by four factors - prowess in operations and management; scale; market reach and stakeholder support. Strength in one area can compensate for weakness in another, which is one of the reasons that car companies are remarkably resilient.