Technological breakthrough and dynamics of an industry, the transition towards electromobility case

Thesis defended on the 18th of December 2020 at 9:00 am and it hold by video conference

Abstract:

Strict regulations force global players to invest heavily in the production of electric vehicles. Electrification is a systemic innovation whose  massification should disrupt the vehicle dominant design. “Could this disruption durably destabilize the industrial architecture of a sector,  considered as very resilient?”

An empirical study on the electric traction value chain, confirms, to date, the resilience of this industry as carmakers remain the focal  actor: electrification alone is not enough to destabilize this industry!

But, technological innovations, new societal challenges, new powerful players in the mobility market influence the future of this industry.  “Could this combination of factors internal and external to the industry facilitate a disruptive dynamic?”

By analyzing 10 case studies of innovative mobility services worldwide, this thesis identifies 3 ideal types: “mobility service added to  product”, “robotaxi”, “territorialized open mobility platform”. If the first one is a natural extension of the carmakers' business, the last two  have the potential to destabilize the automotive industry.

An empirical comparison, between China and Europe, of the governance of environmental regulations, states that China is now in  capacity to impose its standards worldwide through a planning capacity combining directiveness, intrusiveness and agility.

Theoretically, it confirms strategic theories and the interest of building upon the STT paradigm to shed light on transitions in this industry.  It contributes to innovation management and servitization fields by proposing a design space for the development of mobility services and  confirms that project is an important learning vector in a nascent ecosystem. This thesis supports the hypothesis of an avalanche of  converging causalities leading to the destabilization of the historical architecture of the automotive industry. In accordance with the theory  of transitions, the modes of regulation between these different factors will shape these potential destabilizations.

Keywords: Electromobility, Systemic innovation, Industrial transition, Ecosystem learning

Composition du jury :