Title: Technology and inter-firm relationships in the automotive industry: the case of the Basque Country and Navarre (Spain)

Authors: Ricardo Alaez, Javier Bilbao, Vicente Camino, Juan-Carlos Longas

Addresses: Departamento de Economia, Universidad Publica de Navarra, Campus Arrosadia, 31006-Pamplona, Spain. ' Departamento de Economia Aplicada I, Universidad del Pais Vasco, Facultad de Ciencias Economicas y Empresariales, Avenida Lehendakari Agirre, 83, 48015-Bilbao, Spain. ' Departamento de Economia Aplicada I, Universidad del Pais Vasco, Facultad de Derecho, P. Manuel de Lardizabal, 2, 20018-San Sebastian, Spain. ' Departamento de Economia, Universidad Publica de Navarra, Campus Arrosadia, 31006-Pamplona, Spain

Abstract: This article focuses on the nature and significance of inter-firm technological relationships in the automotive industry. Following a theoretical explanation, the key technological role of (interfirm) buyer-supplier relationships is shown for firms in the automotive industry. This approach is valid when determining a firm|s competitive position as well as its anchorage in the industry. The paper concludes with the outline of a method that enables the interpretation of the main features of the automotive industry in a specific regional environment: the Basque Country and Navarre in Northern Spain. Lastly, a practical application of the results obtained is sought.

Keywords: automobile industry; buyer-supplier relationships; automotive technology; Spain; inter-firm relationships; technological relationships.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTM.2008.018107

International Journal of Technology Management, 2008 Vol.42 No.3, pp.267 - 289

Published online: 01 May 2008 *

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