Chapter 1: China's Dream of Detroit-Wolfsburg's Gateway to Asia
 First sight of the factory in Anting
 History behind the deal
 Spurned by the Japanese: Citroën or Volkswagen
 Setting the foundation
 A Volkswagen pioneer for the Middle Kingdom
 Not a fairyland but an entrepreneur's playground
 Partnership premiere for the group
 Vision of the future
 Round the transatlantic world of Volkswagen
 Quick lessons: Prepare your China engagement thoroughly
 
Chapter 2: Culture Shock, Chaotic Beginnings in Anting
 Arrival in a strange and fascinating world
 Living conditions in Shanghai then
 Piano, ballet in Shanghai, 1,000 year-old eggs 
 Shopping, haggling, Hollywood at the Bund
 Fitting derelict buildings with modern machines
 Santana in China from below zero
 Mercury rising
 Delivery kinks
 The struggle for change
 Board work with "scientific management"
 Model discussions at the dinner marathon: Santana or Audi?
 Audis battle Santanas on Chinese ground
 Quick lessons: Avoid unnecessary start-up problems

Chapter 3: Talent-The Secret of Our Success
 Changing a comrade's mindset
 The forgotten equation
 Laying the foundation for training
 Woes of the expatriates
 Too many Germans
 Faults and conflicts
 German expat solidarity
 Transferring management know-how
 Déjà vu
 Quick lessons: Forget China if you don't have China-compatible staff

Chapter 4: Cash Shortages and Risky Financial Maneuvers
 Messy hand of central planning
 Budget blowouts and money problems
 The Chinese accepts higher costs
 Maiden bonds
 Quick lessons: Make sure your business in China is profitable

Chapter 5: "Big Project" Poker
 Competition
 Dr. Hahn's ideas for reinforcing the partnership
 Building container ships
 Dealing with Beijing, central government
 Expedition to SAW in Shiyan
 China's automobile agenda 2000
 The curse of waiting
 An "unofficial visit" to Changchun
 FAW and Volkswagen
 Quick lessons: Gain in-depth understanding of the nature of competition in China

Chapter 6: Two Partners, One Dream: The Most Modern Automobile Factory in China
 Misunderstandings and red tape
 The battle against mistrust, fear and ignorance
 The problem with responsibility
 Big wolf
 Pioneering work in management
 Shanghai Volkswagen: Dreaming the same dream?
 Quick lessons: Create a solid foundation for intercultural cooperation

Chapter 7: The Open Secret of the Learning Factory
 Interesting find
 Paul's intelligent production design
 Japanese in Shop 54
 Capacity limits
 In search of perfection
 Introducing market mechanisms at the factory floor
 How to break the "iron rice bowl"
 Leadership: Encouraging partners to act
 Quick lessons: Use your "zero hour" in China

Chapter 8: The Joint Venture and Its Parents
 The genie in our bottle-the spirit of collaboration
 Loyalties and conflict
 Principle of consensus versus pressure "from above"
 Putting forward one voice
 Clear words from Beijing and an official complaint from Wolfsburg
 Media distortions
 Quick lessons: Make sure local management has autonomy to act

Chapter 9: The Santana: Trendsetter for Motoring
 Map to market
 Of markets and pricing
 Fighting central planners
 Advertising cars, the Chinese way
 The birth of customer service
 Dream car
 Dream Ship and a vision for China
 An Audi flag in Anting and its consequences
 Surprise session
 Quick lessons: Identify a specific and direct path to the customer and build on it

Chapter 10: The Long March to Localization
 Fragmented auto supplies industry
 No compromises
 Beyond the Bund
 Pressure for progress
 Slow breakthrough
 Rev up from Zhu Rongji
 Quick lessons: Localization is the key to cornering the market

Chapter 11: In The Dragon's Den: Politics in Deal-making
 Big trouble with the horn and the steering wheel
 A venture is like marriage
 Power of Shanghai municipality
 SVW runs out of time
 Waiting for the carrot, or the stick
 The end of Luo Pu Road
 Quick lessons: Secure political support for your project

Epilogue: At the End of 1,000 Days
 Report card
 The factory-a role model of modernization
 Where east meets west
 Quick lessons: Enjoy sustained profits from you China operations

Appendix Notes