New Publication: Regional capabilities in the European automotive industry

Tim Becker and Dr. Sebastian Losacker, together with Prof. Margherita Russo, have published their new article "Regional capabilities in the European automotive industry: Relatedness, complexity and lock-ins in the transition to electric vehicles" in the journal Progress in Economic Geography.

The transition to electric vehicles represents the most profound disruption in the automotive industry in over a century. While for decades the optimization of internal combustion engine technologies served as the dominant decarbonization strategy and led to the development of strong innovation systems, the shift towards electric mobility requires fundamental changes in manufacturing processes, trade patterns, critical raw materials, production locations, and technological capabilities.

Against this background, the authors examine how European regions can shape the transition to electric mobility and which factors enable innovation in this field. They analyse how European regions are positioned in terms of the technological capabilities required for electric mobility and to what extent legacy trajectories in internal combustion engine technologies influence regional transformation potential.

The findings highlight the need for differentiated, place-based innovation and industrial policies that account for both existing regional capabilities and legacy technology orientations.