Shifting supply chain interdependencies among global automakers.

Abstract

Against the backdrop of electrification and supply chain resilience, the global automotive industry is in an era of great transformation. Using component supply information provided by MarkLines, this study investigated the impact on inter-firm dependencies among major global automakers from 2018 to 2024. Specifically, it analyzed changes in the community structure of the interdependency network between manufacturers, based on common suppliers for each model year and component category. The results revealed the impact of electrification: a reduction of roughly two-thirds (about 64%) in transactions for internal combustion engine (ICE) powertrains and an approximately eight-fold increase in e-powertrain transactions. Furthermore, the results of community detection also revealed a structural reorganization: while geographical clustering among manufacturers intensified for ICE components, new cross-border interdependencies formed for e-powertrain components, leading to the fragmentation of the traditionally integrated Japan-US-Europe bloc and the emergence of a China-centric ecosystem. This study provides new empirical evidence on the structural realignment of the global automotive value chain, offering important implications for management strategy and industrial policy in an era of great technological and geopolitical change.