Title: Understanding the emergence of Chinese new energy carmakers - the perspective of productive model

Authors: Hua Wang; Chuanjuan Wu; Jinquan Xu; Bin Li

Addresses: Global Education Center, Emlyon Business School, East China Normal University, 3663 North Zhongshan Road, Shanghai, 200062, China ' Global Education Center, Emlyon Business School, East China Normal University, 3663 North Zhongshan Road, Shanghai, 200062, China ' Timer Autodata Tech Co., Room 306, Building F, Lianqiang International Plaza, No. 1068 Tianshan West Rd., Shanghai, China ' Timer Autodata Tech Co., Room 306, Building F, Lianqiang International Plaza, No. 1068 Tianshan West Rd., Shanghai, China

Abstract: This paper examines the emergence of Chinese carmakers in the global new energy vehicle (NEV) market through the framework of productive models (Boyer and Freyssenet, 2002). We observe that the competitive viability of Chinese NEV carmakers results from the joint endeavours of the government, industry stakeholders and the substantial market size, while highlighting the increasing influence of Chinese consumers, and the importance of leapfrogging towards the disruptive technology through the creation of ecosystem. To address these dynamics, the paper proposes an updated productive model that incorporates 'consumer' and 'technology and ecosystem' as integral components. A preliminary examination of BYD's productive model facilitates a comparative analysis of Taylorian, Fordian, and Toyotian paradigms, offering new insights into the evolution of productive models in the global automotive industry.

Keywords: Chinese carmaker; consumer behaviour; industrial policy; geopolitics; new energy vehicle; NEV; productive model.

DOI: 10.1504/IJATM.2025.147853

International Journal of Automotive Technology and Management, 2025 Vol.25 No.2, pp.129 - 147

Received: 19 Dec 2024
Accepted: 27 Dec 2024
Published online: 04 Aug 2025 *

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