Title: Trade agreements and the geography of motor vehicle production in North America and Europe

Authors: Thomas Klier; James Rubenstein

Addresses: Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, 230 S. LaSalle Street, Chicago, IL 60604, USA ' Department of Geography, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA

Abstract: This paper describes changes in the geography of the production of vehicles and sourcing of powertrains in both North America and Europe between 2000 and 2016. During that time period, new trade agreements in both regions resulted in larger economic geographies within which vehicle and parts producers could organise production. We show that as trade relationships encompassed larger geographies, powertrain sourcing and vehicle assembly diffused across countries within each region. At the same time, trade agreements did not alter the traditional forces affecting regional integration patterns within the industry, rather they changed their geographical reach at a subregional level.

Keywords: Europe; North America; vehicle production; engine; transmission; trade agreements; geography.

DOI: 10.1504/IJATM.2022.122099

International Journal of Automotive Technology and Management, 2022 Vol.22 No.1, pp.4 - 28

Received: 30 Jan 2021
Accepted: 30 Aug 2021
Published online: 08 Apr 2022 *