An Italian SME entering China auto spare parts market: the Bimecc case

Abstract

My final dissertation is aimed at analyzing the economic-legal scenario existing between China and Europe concerning the automotive industry and in particular the dynamics in the auto supply chain, highlighting the differences and similarities and the opportunities to increase trade and market share between these two powerful areas. In the first chapter I will briefly outline the scenario before the 2020 reform of Foreign Investment Law, then analyzing the background which brought to this important change and what this reform brings as opportunity for foreign investors. Moreover, I will focus on the impact of the reform on the OEMs suppliers and on the aftermarket competitors. In the second chapter I will distinguish the two main segments of market characterizing the auto supply chain as in China as worldwide, which are: the suppliers of the automakers, so suppliers of original equipment and the supplier of spare parts, so suppliers of auto parts which most of the times are identical to the original equipment but are sold in the aftermarket as they have not brand identity. I will focus on the structure and dynamics of these two different markets in China, trying to understand which of them is more successful and profitable in the Chinese automotive market. In the last chapter I will present a case study, the Bimecc case, which is a presentation of the company for which I have been working as trainee during my last academic year. In my period of training, I have tried to first understand deeply what the company core business and customers are, and on this basis, I have been searching the better strategy for the company to enter the Chinese market, as it has always been one of the main goals that the company has decided to reach in the next few years. All the information reported in the thesis are updated on all the latest news of 2021 and sometimes based on personal consideration for the future perspective of automotive supply market, as this sector is facing a transitional period.