The internationalization of the automotive supply chain: evidence from the Italian filière

Abstract

This dissertation aims to investigate the internationalization degree of the Italian automotive supply chain, in particular focusing on the original country ownership of suppliers and the spatial distribution of their production units and R&D centers. The research was based on the empirical collection of data regarding the largest 200 automotive suppliers by revenues belonging to the Italian supply chain.

Evidence demonstrates that domestic Italian suppliers have a lower international presence regarding both production and research centers with respect to foreign-based multinational companies. Also, the analysis showed that the geographical distribution of activities is partially in line with the core-periphery model framed by geographic economists. However, there are some countries, both core and integrated peripheries, that emerged as preferred destinations both for the location of production and research activities. In order to understand localization decisions of domestic Italian suppliers it was also compared the distribution of Fiat and other Stellantis plants to evaluate if domestic supplier have followed the assembler to foreign locations.