Publisher Summary This chapter provides an overview of the automobile with emphasis on the basic operation of the engine, thus providing the background to how electronic controls have been and are applied. The basic automobile components and systems are reviewed as they pertained to the post-World War II, pre-emissions control era. This review provides a framework within which the present day automobile with its extensive use of electronics can be understood. In this sense, the motivation for applying electronics to solve regulatory problems imposed on the industry can be readily seen. The influence of the shock absorber damping on wheel motion is explained. This chapter briefly reviews the major systems of the automobile and discusses basic engine operation, and also indicates where electronic technology could be applied to improve performance or reduce cost.