Digital transformation in the automotive supply chain: a comparative perspective

This chapter addresses the dynamics of the ongoing digital transformations in the automotive industry in China, Germany, Italy and Japan, building on the results of empirical analyses prepared for the OECD project ‘Digital and Open Innovation’. Several dimensions are examined, according the availability of comparable information across the different sources, aiming to understand the rationale of the different paces of change of digital transformation in the various segments (and different size of companies) of the supply chain across countries, and understanding its implications, if any, for innovation policy. Although the automotive supply chain has a digitalization level greater than in other manufacturing industries, there is no alignment of digital transformation along the many specializations within the automotive supply chain and across countries. The chapter highlights the implications of interrelationships in the global value chain in which those countries are located and discusses implications for innovation policy with regard to systemic changes in related systems of transport infrastructures and renewable energy production: their path of development is strongly affected by the rhythm at which electric vehicles will be produced