This chapter introduces the reader to a broad background of automotive structure information and concepts and acts as a foundation for the subsequent loadcase chapters of this book. Readers new to the world of automotive structure will benefit from the topics ‘nomenclature and terminology of automotive structure’, ‘automotive structure materials and how the structures are manufactured’, and ‘automotive structure configurations’. The chapter answers the question, “What constitutes structure?” before focusing on the concept of structural loadpaths, structural topologies, and how to construct them. Readers already possessing automotive structure experience are not left out, as the chapter culminates with an overview of a systematic process to design efficient structures.