ronda mauer recalls the days of uncertainty. >> we didn't know what was going to happen with all of ours, you know? it was a very scary time in my life personally. >> reporter: today the auto makers are thrivering, sales are up, and there is job growth. last year a record 17 million vehicles were sold. and they have generated more than 640,000 more jobs since the bailout. >> i think the obama administration realized if gm and chrysler would have gone under, ford would have gone under as well, and the industry would have been decimated. >> reporter: the government shelled out some $85 billion to bailout gm and chrysler. >> it has been estimated if the auto industry had gone under completely, you would have lost close to 3 million jobs, probably more than that. that's a huge impact. >> reporter: all three auto makers reorganized, and the uaw agreed to what mauer described as painful cuts. >> we all came together and did that as a union with the company jointly did that. it wasn't a good time for any of us. but we did what we had to do. >> reporter: on wednesday obama will become the third