When Dieter Zetsche was replaced as chief executive of Daimler last week, it underlined yet another momentous change in the automotive industry’s executive ranks.

In the past year, dozens of divisions, groups and conglomerates have lost and gained, and sometimes lost again, respected, feared and even legendary auto leaders with decades of top-line experience on their résumés. They have retired or resigned, or been cashiered, indicted or imprisoned — one has even died — during this tumultuous time.

Just half the leaders of the world’s 10 largest automakers were in place before 2017, and the two longest-tenured bosses have family ties to the founders:

Toyota: Akio Toyoda, 2009

Volkswagen: Herbert Diess, April 2018

Hyundai Motor: Chung Mong Koo, 1999

General Motors: Mary T. Barra, 2014

Ford: Jim Hackett, May 2017

Nissan: Hiroto Saikawa, April 2017

Honda: Takahiro Hachigo, 2015

Fiat Chrysler: Mike Manley, July 2018

Renault: Thierry Bolloré, January 2019

PSA Group: Carlos Tavares, 2014

Note: Automakers are ranked in order of global sales .

After bottoming out during the last recession, the auto industry mounted a furious recovery only to quickly face deeper (and deeply expensive) questions: how to manage the shift to electric vehicles as the world confronts climate change and how to prepare for a time when cars might drive themselves.