The automotive industry is challenged by dynamics of change resulting from the green transition. A group of ASCII researchers worked on a technical background report on the state of the production of passenger car parts. The report is intended to serve as a methodological basis for further research.
The automotive industry is currently in a state of flux, as the green transition means a shift from internal combustion engines to primarily electrically powered vehicles. Austria – and Upper Austria in particular – offers a product portfolio that is embedded in the EU and well diversified across the automotive supply chain. Austrian companies often cover niche markets and have a strong position in combustion engine technologies. However, the products are also a notable source of exports for some electric vehicle components, suggesting growth. However, the technology and associated skills are very different between internal combustion and electric powertrains.
A component-based approach was developed at ASCII to analyse the capability base and the potential of new technologies. The focus is on passenger cars. The study includes trade specialisation patterns, likely diversification paths and the geographical distribution of the component production of passenger cars.
The results show that the Austrian industry and the automotive cluster in Upper Austria have the potential to produce EV-specific components, despite their high specialisation in combustion engines. The study also indicates some transformation paths from specific combustion engine components to electric vehicle parts, whose realisation depends on the wider economic context. The methods and preliminary results will serve as a basis for further studies on the transformation of the automotive industry.
