This chapter proposes to analyse automotive industry development strategies through three distinct approaches, namely national champion, product champion, and technology champion. The main motivation for proposing this analytical perspective is to move beyond the well-known contrast between import substitution and export-oriented industrialisation. Based on real-world examples, the characteristics of each champion approach will be outlined and the industrial development logic behind them highlighted. Further, it is argued that these three distinct champion approaches have different levels of compatibility with Global Value Chain organisation and that these approaches follow different industrial development logics of how to deal with Global Value Chain organisation.