Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Corey Brincks Author-X-Name-First: Corey Author-X-Name-Last: Brincks Author-Name: Bolesław Domański Author-X-Name-First: Bolesław Author-X-Name-Last: Domański Author-Name: Thomas Klier Author-X-Name-First: Thomas Author-X-Name-Last: Klier Author-Name: James M. Rubenstein Author-X-Name-First: James M. Author-X-Name-Last: Rubenstein Title: Integrated peripheral markets in the auto industries of Europe and North America Abstract: This paper discusses the evolving geography of the motor vehicle industry in Europe and North America in the context of core-periphery relationships. Historically, the motor vehicle industries in both regions have been highly clustered in core areas. Since the late 20th century, peripheral areas have taken on more prominence in the two regions' motor vehicle industries, a trend that has accelerated in the 21st century. The growing importance of the periphery has given rise to the concept of the integrated peripheral market. This paper shows that Mexico and Central Europe are prominent examples of integrated peripheral areas in the motor vehicle industry. It analyses changes in both regions' production in light vehicles between 1990 and 2015. Both Mexico and Central Europe have experienced substantial increases in assembly of vehicles produced primarily for export. The rapid increase in production has occurred since integration into regional free-trade agreements with neighbouring countries. Journal: Int. J. of Automotive Technology and Management Pages: 1-28 Issue: 1 Volume: 18 Year: 2018 Keywords: auto industry; Central Europe; Mexico; integrated periphery; vehicle production; agglomeration. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=90170 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijatma:v:18:y:2018:i:1:p:1-28 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Heike Proff Author-X-Name-First: Heike Author-X-Name-Last: Proff Title: Heterogeneity of the steering of foreign subsidiaries in multinational automotive companies Abstract: Rising environmental complexity is leading to challenges in the steering of foreign subsidiaries in multinational companies (MNCs). The actual local embeddedness literature recommends that global standardisation and the most homogeneous steering of foreign subsidiaries possible should be subordinated to the efforts of the important subsidiaries to adopt a more local orientation and to achieve more heterogeneity in steering. This paper seeks to clarify the present extent of the heterogeneity of steering in MNCs. A literature review is carried out to find reasons for the demand for more heterogeneous steering and to identify decision principles that help in making efficient decisions. Hypotheses are made as to how far these decision principles bring about heterogeneous steering. They serve as a basis for the empirical examination of multinational German automotive companies. Contrary to expectations, the heterogeneity of steering in MNCs is still relatively low, but a clear influence of the different decision principles on the heterogeneity of the steering was found. Journal: Int. J. of Automotive Technology and Management Pages: 29-45 Issue: 1 Volume: 18 Year: 2018 Keywords: steering; headquarter-subsidiary relationship; local embeddedness; automotive industry; multinational companies; MNCs; growth markets. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=90171 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijatma:v:18:y:2018:i:1:p:29-45 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Pietro Lanzini Author-X-Name-First: Pietro Author-X-Name-Last: Lanzini Title: The automotive industry and the increasing relevance of a consumer perspective: a research agenda Abstract: The deep transformations occurring in transports and mobility call for automakers and other actors in the automotive industry to gain further insights on the mechanisms underpinning behaviours of commuters, which represent the key-actor in determining the success or failure of any industrial initiative or public policy in the sector. The present article provides a detailed overview of the state-of-the-art of research on the determinants of car use, identifying relevant gaps of knowledge and advancing a research agenda to overcome the limitations of current studies hindering their effectiveness in providing a valuable informational background on which to build sound strategies. Journal: Int. J. of Automotive Technology and Management Pages: 46-58 Issue: 1 Volume: 18 Year: 2018 Keywords: automotive industry; car use; consumer perspective; meta-analysis; mobility; research agenda. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=90173 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijatma:v:18:y:2018:i:1:p:46-58 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Pradipta Kumar Sahoo Author-X-Name-First: Pradipta Kumar Author-X-Name-Last: Sahoo Author-Name: Badri Narayan Rath Author-X-Name-First: Badri Narayan Author-X-Name-Last: Rath Title: Productivity growth, efficiency change and source of inefficiency: evidence from the Indian automobile industry Abstract: This paper investigates the productivity growth and efficiency change of selected automobile industry in India during 2009-2015. This study uses data envelopment analysis (DEA) technique to measure the productivity growth and efficiency change. The empirical findings suggest that the segments of the automobile industry, i.e., passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles and two wheelers have positive productivity growth in the recent period. However, our study found that commercial vehicles are more efficient as compared to passenger vehicles and two wheelers firms. Further, by applying DEA multistage approach to examine the sources of inefficiency. Our results reveal that excess inputs in near about 50% firms are cause of inefficiency and these inefficient firms can become efficient by targeting the peer group with the help of reducing the input sets which are overused in the production process. Journal: Int. J. of Automotive Technology and Management Pages: 59-74 Issue: 1 Volume: 18 Year: 2018 Keywords: total factor productivity; technical efficiency change; TEC; data envelopment analysis; DEA; Malmquist index; Indian automobile. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=90174 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijatma:v:18:y:2018:i:1:p:59-74 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Alex Covarrubias V Author-X-Name-First: Alex Covarrubias Author-X-Name-Last: V Title: When disruptors converge: the last automobile revolution Abstract: While the automobile industry is in a transition prompted by cutting-edge technologies that enable old and new players to envision more efficient ways of mobilising people and goods, a debate boils up as to the depth and breadth of such transition. This paper joins the debate from an analytical approach based on the dialectic issue life cycle (DILC) model, the theory of disruptive innovations and organisational concepts of neo-institutional scholars. It identifies that automakers are well involved into a phase of strategic diversification spurred by a unique historical convergence of alternative drive systems, digital technologies, new business models and newcomers. While changes take place at the level of sustaining innovations and industrial mindset is the dimension more radically changed, automakers are struggling in the search for an anew business-balancing act of value propositions, alliances, and organisational structures. Journal: Int. J. of Automotive Technology and Management Pages: 81-104 Issue: 2 Volume: 18 Year: 2018 Keywords: industry transition; sustainable innovation; disruptive innovation; technological trajectory; industry mindset; business model; value proposition; value architecture; organisational structures; dialectic lifecycle. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=92184 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijatma:v:18:y:2018:i:2:p:81-104 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Samuel Klebaner Author-X-Name-First: Samuel Author-X-Name-Last: Klebaner Title: Isolated car manufacturers? The political positions of the automotive industry on the real driving emissions regulation Abstract: The real driving emissions regulation will have several critical consequences for the European diesel market. The catalyst technologies needed to comply are costly, both for car manufacturers and for consumers, and are difficulty to implement in diesel small cars. However, the automotive firms are stakeholders in the political negotiations in the European Union. To tackle this apparent contradiction, we study the corporate stakeholders' positions on the real driving emissions regulation through the analysis of the hearings held at the European Parliament between 2016 and 2017. After describing the catalysts value chains and the European governance of the air pollutants standards, we highlight the differences between firms' representatives' positions through the lens of the dependence of actors to diesel market and embeddedness of the air pollutant regulations in the broader European policy. We conclude that stakeholders ask both for a tightening of standards and policies to support diesel or new energies engines markets. That leads to general considerations about the capture phenomenon in a theoretical meso-institutional framework. Journal: Int. J. of Automotive Technology and Management Pages: 119-141 Issue: 2 Volume: 18 Year: 2018 Keywords: air pollution regulation; real driving emissions; automotive industry; car manufacturers; catalytic converters; diesel; emissions control technologies; Europe; value chain; political positions. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=92185 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijatma:v:18:y:2018:i:2:p:119-141 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: David Morris Author-X-Name-First: David Author-X-Name-Last: Morris Author-Name: Garikayi Madzudzo Author-X-Name-First: Garikayi Author-X-Name-Last: Madzudzo Author-Name: Alexeis Garcia-Perez Author-X-Name-First: Alexeis Author-X-Name-Last: Garcia-Perez Title: Cybersecurity and the auto industry: the growing challenges presented by connected cars Abstract: The term 'connected cars' embraces all small passenger vehicles which are connected to the internet in some way. Connected cars are no different from other nodes on the internet of things and face many of the same generic cybersecurity threats. Whilst most modern road vehicles, including buses and trucks, are now complex computer-laden devices, this article concentrates on cars where, arguably, the greatest cybersecurity challenges occur as a consequence of the number of vehicles involved, the potential disincentives to invest in cybersecurity, the range of user threats greater and overall risks the highest. Despite the magnitude and potential impacts of cybersecurity issues, there are relatively few contributions to the debate which focus on the wider social, economic and behavioural aspects rather than the technological. The varied and often competing incentives of different auto industry actors to invest in cybersecurity defences, and knowledge sharing in particular, are identified as a challenge to developing a specific and coherent industry response to the growing threats posed by cybersecurity breaches. This paper identifies threats which are specific to cars and possible strategies the auto industry might pursue to counter them. Journal: Int. J. of Automotive Technology and Management Pages: 105-118 Issue: 2 Volume: 18 Year: 2018 Keywords: cybersecurity; connected cars; automotive electronics; ICT; vehicle software; technical complexity; supply networks; knowledge sharing. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=92187 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijatma:v:18:y:2018:i:2:p:105-118 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Darina Lepadatu Author-X-Name-First: Darina Author-X-Name-Last: Lepadatu Author-Name: Thomas Janoski Author-X-Name-First: Thomas Author-X-Name-Last: Janoski Title: Just-in-time workforce? Temporary workers as a structural aspect of lean production in the US auto industry Abstract: Temporary employment is estimated to be around 20% of the US auto industry. Based on extensive fieldwork at the big three Japanese factories (Toyota, Honda and Nissan) and auto suppliers, this paper documents the impact of temporary workers on the shop floor and their role in the context of lean production. This article fills an important gap in the existing research as one of the few empirical studies that examine the effects of temp work in the auto industry. We conclude that the just-in-time workforce as a human buffer for sick or injured team members and an addition when production volume goes up is a core structural aspect of lean production. The lean, loyal and long-term principles of mature lean production to protect permanent workers are based on the disloyal and short-term use of temporary workers. Journal: Int. J. of Automotive Technology and Management Pages: 160-177 Issue: 2 Volume: 18 Year: 2018 Keywords: temporary workers; lean production; automotive industry; Japanese car factories; just-in-time workforce. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=92189 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijatma:v:18:y:2018:i:2:p:160-177 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Zejian Li Author-X-Name-First: Zejian Author-X-Name-Last: Li Title: Defining mega-platform strategies: the potential impacts of dynamic competition in China Abstract: At the beginning of the 21st century, automotive markets in Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRIC) continued to expand. Compared with declines in the Indian, Russian and Brazilian markets, the Chinese market's steady expansion showed the impact of the country's internal growth and rapid structural market changes. By focusing on the strategic changes of local Chinese automakers, we analyse the potential impacts of <i>mega-platform strategies</i> by shedding light on the challenges faced by local Chinese automakers. We find that ongoing competition for growing diversity of new models is the real reason many Chinese local automakers have strategically shifted to a mega-platform strategy, particularly after Volkswagen launched <i>Modularer Querbaukasten</i> (MQB) production in China. Furthermore, such strategic motives of local Chinese automakers might impact incipient <i>product architecture-defining</i> competition taking place among global leading automakers, such as Nissan's Common Module Family (CMF), Mazda's common architecture (CA) and Toyota's Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA), which globally expands Volkswagen's MQB. Journal: Int. J. of Automotive Technology and Management Pages: 142-159 Issue: 2 Volume: 18 Year: 2018 Keywords: product design; product architecture defining; mega-platform strategies; emerging markets; Chinese automakers; Chery; Geely; Chang'an; Modularer Querbaukasten; MQB; Toyota New Global Architecture; TNGA; China. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=92192 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijatma:v:18:y:2018:i:2:p:142-159 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Giulia Marcocchia Author-X-Name-First: Giulia Author-X-Name-Last: Marcocchia Author-Name: Rémi Maniak Author-X-Name-First: Rémi Author-X-Name-Last: Maniak Title: Managing 'proto-ecosystems' - two smart mobility case studies Abstract: This paper considers how ecosystem-based research projects can be managed for a successful deployment of systemic and disruptive innovation. Such projects are defined as assignments in which heterogeneous organisations must invest upfront, aiming at co-constructing a systemic offer with shared interest, shared uncertainty and high economic, environmental and social impacts. Innovation management, ecosystem, and public-private partnership literatures have been investigated, as well as two European Commission funded research projects aimed at smart mobility infrastructure development. Results show these projects are both critical and disappointing for each player. We explain this contradiction of value perception showing that partners need such ecosystem projects to go forward and update their competences and roadmaps, but that the observed project management approach hampers the collectively built learning and the evolution of the strategic agenda of each partner. In conclusion, we define the concept of proto-ecosystem as an intermediary 'management object' for innovation management, and point out implications to manage such projects in order to unfold their whole potential. Journal: Int. J. of Automotive Technology and Management Pages: 209-228 Issue: 3 Volume: 18 Year: 2018 Keywords: ecosystem; proto-ecosystem; platform; public private partnership; PPP; business model; smart mobility; systemic and disruptive innovation. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=93413 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijatma:v:18:y:2018:i:3:p:209-228 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Carole Donada Author-X-Name-First: Carole Author-X-Name-Last: Donada Title: Leadership in the electromobility ecosystem: integrators and coordinators Abstract: Electromobility is a nascent business ecosystem, in which the position of leadership is not assigned per se, so stakeholders have equal claims on it. Firms differ according to their strategic paths (build-borrow-buy strategies for growth) and ability to align their business model with the collective imperatives of the ecosystem. On the basis of strategic management theory, this article proposes two hypotheses. First, the firms that build and master the greatest number of activities and skills required to offer sale bundles (i.e., integrators) are best positioned in the race to leadership, because of their capacity and ability to control key resources. Second, and in contrast to the first hypothesis, firms that are best able to coordinate the ecosystem as a whole (i.e., coordinators) may take precedence. With an empirical study of the strategic actions of stakeholders in the electromobility business ecosystem, we reveal different paths established for individual integrators or coordinators. Journal: Int. J. of Automotive Technology and Management Pages: 229-246 Issue: 3 Volume: 18 Year: 2018 Keywords: electromobility; leadership; ecosystem; integrators; coordinators; electric vehicle; build-borrow-buy paths. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=93417 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijatma:v:18:y:2018:i:3:p:229-246 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Seyedmahdi Izadkhast Author-X-Name-First: Seyedmahdi Author-X-Name-Last: Izadkhast Author-Name: Pablo Garcia-Gonzalez Author-X-Name-First: Pablo Author-X-Name-Last: Garcia-Gonzalez Author-Name: Pablo Frías Author-X-Name-First: Pablo Author-X-Name-Last: Frías Author-Name: Pavol Bauer Author-X-Name-First: Pavol Author-X-Name-Last: Bauer Author-Name: Laura Ramírez-Elizondo Author-X-Name-First: Laura Author-X-Name-Last: Ramírez-Elizondo Title: Evaluation of aggregate models of plug-in electric vehicles for primary frequency control Abstract: This paper summarises and evaluates in detail aggregate models of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) for primary frequency control (PFC) through dynamic simulations. A basic aggregate model of PEVs for PFC is introduced and then gradually developed in the following steps: 1) technical characteristics of PEVs are incorporated into the model; 2) technical characteristics of distribution networks are formulated and added; 3) a strategy is described to well-design the frequency-droop controller of PEVs for PFC. Moreover, from an economic point of view, a method is presented to assess the benefits which could result from PEVs for PFC. Four simulation scenarios are defined to evaluate the impact of: 1) different PEV's penetration levels; 2) PEV's operating modes and constraints; 3) power consumed in the network during the PFC; 4) well-designed frequency droop controller, on the frequency response following a contingency event. Simulation results show that aggregate PEVs have a great potential not only to improve the frequency response, while preserving the overall stability, but also to save some costs associated with PFC. Journal: Int. J. of Automotive Technology and Management Pages: 270-294 Issue: 3 Volume: 18 Year: 2018 Keywords: aggregation; distribution networks; economic assessment; plug-in electric vehicles; PEVs; primary frequency control; PFC; strategy; technical constraints; well-design droop. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=93418 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijatma:v:18:y:2018:i:3:p:270-294 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Guy Fournier Author-X-Name-First: Guy Author-X-Name-Last: Fournier Author-Name: Manuel Baumann Author-X-Name-First: Manuel Author-X-Name-Last: Baumann Author-Name: Johannes Gasde Author-X-Name-First: Johannes Author-X-Name-Last: Gasde Author-Name: Katharina Kilian-Yasin Author-X-Name-First: Katharina Author-X-Name-Last: Kilian-Yasin Title: Innovative mobility in rural areas - the case of the Black Forest Abstract: Rural areas in Germany have a lack of well-structured local public transport systems and are still facing exodus. Furthermore, the German energy transition aims to bring inter alia 1 million electric vehicles (EVs) onto German roads by 2020. The aim of this paper is to analyse if innovative forms of EV-based mobility concepts can better meet the needs of rural communities and contribute to the German energy transition in a sustainable way. Specific mobility concepts were thus tested according to sustainability criteria within a government-funded pilot project in four small communities in the Black Forest. The collected data were used to calculate energy consumption, carbon footprint and costs of the local projects and to compare them with fossil fuelled propulsion systems. Surveys in combination with semi-structured interviews were conducted additionally to assess the social acceptance of EVs within the local population. It could be proven that EVs already represent socially and environmentally promising perspectives in rural areas. Nevertheless, the economic drawbacks of the presented mobility solution are currently still hindering an extensive spread of EVs. Journal: Int. J. of Automotive Technology and Management Pages: 247-269 Issue: 3 Volume: 18 Year: 2018 Keywords: electric vehicles; car sharing; mobility on demand; rural areas; sustainable mobility; energy transition; Germany. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=93420 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijatma:v:18:y:2018:i:3:p:247-269 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Miguel Vazquez Author-X-Name-First: Miguel Author-X-Name-Last: Vazquez Author-Name: Michelle Hallack Author-X-Name-First: Michelle Author-X-Name-Last: Hallack Author-Name: Yannick Perez Author-X-Name-First: Yannick Author-X-Name-Last: Perez Title: The dynamics of institutional and organisational change in emergent industries: the case of electric vehicles Abstract: We consider the electric vehicle industry as a complex system within which firms choose among competing organisational architectures and regulatory institutions emerge from the interaction between firms' choices and rule-makers' beliefs. The main drivers to change regulatory institutions are the 'evaluative criteria' applied to outcomes. Evaluative criteria are rule-makers' simplified models against which outcomes are evaluated. We look at the emergence of dominant organisational structures, and point at the importance of the institutional design in such process. In particular, we analyse the interaction between policy choices: we consider policy makers that have two main dimensions upon which to act: they may facilitate cooperative strategies, or they may implement demand-side measures. Journal: Int. J. of Automotive Technology and Management Pages: 187-208 Issue: 3 Volume: 18 Year: 2018 Keywords: co-evolution; institutional evolution; path-dependence; electric vehicles. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=93422 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijatma:v:18:y:2018:i:3:p:187-208