The new geography of the electric vehicles global value chain

The global automotive industry is undergoing profound transformations driven by rapid technological innovation and the urgency to address climate change. Electric vehicles (EVs) are at the center of this shift, reshaping global value chains (GVCs) and altering traditional hierarchies in automotive production. The 2025 Gerpisa Colloquium, under the theme “The Central Role of China in the Global Automotive Industry,” provides an ideal setting to explore these dynamics as part of the Young Scholars Initiative.

This project examines how the transition to EVs is redefining the geography of the automotive GVCs, focusing on two key trends: the dominance of China as a technological leader and production hub, and the uneven opportunities for upgrading in smaller economies. With nearly 95% of EV sales concentrated in China, Europe, and the United States, the EV market is increasingly polarized around major economic centers. Simultaneously, China’s strategic leapfrogging in EV and lithium-ion battery production exemplifies the growing competition among industrialized nations.

The project seeks to analyze the implications of these shifts and explore how emerging economies can position themselves within these reorganized value chains. Through a mix of theoretical and empirical approaches, participants will address questions such as:

• What are the key drivers of the new geography of EV value chains?
• How does China’s dominance influence the dynamics of competition and collaboration within GVCs?
• What opportunities exist for smaller and developing economies to capture value in the EV sector?

The 2025 Gerpisa Colloquium will be held at the School of Economics and Management of Tongji University in Shanghai, China. This project will run from June 24 to June 27, 2025.

As part of the Young Scholars Initiative, this project fosters collaboration among early-career researchers to advance innovative perspectives on the evolving global automotive industry.