International production networks: the automobile industry in East Asia

This study investigated the East Asia's automobile production network and its evolution from 1990 to 2010. A network analysis identified the major automobile trade links for parts and components (P&C) and final automobiles (FG), and changes in roles, trading partners and network patterns for the years 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005 and 2010. The results show that while the role of Malaysia and Singapore remained unchanged, China, Indonesia and Philippines expanded from importers to exporters of auto P&C. Thailand's role changed dramatically from an importer to an exporter of auto P&C and FG. Japan played a major role in the transformation of the industry during this period, as it started to import P&C from its East Asian partners and exported P&C to Thailand. Korea has followed in Japan's footsteps but with a focus on the industry's development in Vietnam and China.