Article: The changing geography of the automotive industry in an era of car electrification: a critical assessment Journal: International Journal of Automotive Technology and Management (IJATM) 2025 Vol.25 No.2 pp.186 - 198 Abstract: In an era of car electrification, new players are emerging along the supply chain, peripheral countries are playing a more important role, and the position of integrator of incumbent car makers is being called into question. The aim of this paper is to take a critical look at the real transformations taking place in the global automotive industry. It scrutinises the renegotiation of the role of incumbent car makers in different parts of the world. It highlights three main trends. First, there are major and disruptive changes following the deployment of Chinese battery and EV makers. Second, the geography of the automobile industry has not been profoundly altered, and EVs accentuate the productive relocation to integrated peripheral nations. Third, Japan's position as an all-electric alternative highlights the path dependency historically built around policies targeting GHG emissions, hybrid technologies, and product policies designed by car and component makers. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: The changing geography of the automotive industry in an era of car electrification: a critical assessment

Authors: Stéphane Heim; Jaeho Lee; Kosuke Kakitani

Addresses: Graduate School of Letters, Department of Sociology, Kyoto University, Yoshida-honmachi, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan ' Graduate School of International Studies, Hiroshima City University, 731-3194 Hiroshima-shi, Asaminami-ku, Ozukahigashi 3-4-1, Japan ' Faculty of Business Administration, Osaka University of Economics and Law, No. 10, 6-Chome, Gakuonji, Yao City, Osaka Prefecture, 581-8511, Japan

Abstract: In an era of car electrification, new players are emerging along the supply chain, peripheral countries are playing a more important role, and the position of integrator of incumbent car makers is being called into question. The aim of this paper is to take a critical look at the real transformations taking place in the global automotive industry. It scrutinises the renegotiation of the role of incumbent car makers in different parts of the world. It highlights three main trends. First, there are major and disruptive changes following the deployment of Chinese battery and EV makers. Second, the geography of the automobile industry has not been profoundly altered, and EVs accentuate the productive relocation to integrated peripheral nations. Third, Japan's position as an all-electric alternative highlights the path dependency historically built around policies targeting GHG emissions, hybrid technologies, and product policies designed by car and component makers.

Keywords: EV; geography of automobile production; LIB supply chain; path dependency; battery chemistries; industrial policies; product strategies; productive internationalisation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJATM.2025.147840

International Journal of Automotive Technology and Management, 2025 Vol.25 No.2, pp.186 - 198

Received: 06 Dec 2024
Accepted: 11 Dec 2024
Published online: 04 Aug 2025 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article

Title: The changing geography of the automotive industry in an era of car electrification: a critical assessment

Keep up-to-date