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This paper aims at understanding how automotive firms integrate customer relationship management (CRM) tools and big data analytics (BDA) into their marketing strategies to enhance total quality management (TQM) after the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

A qualitative methodology based on a multiple-case study was adopted, involving the collection of 18 interviews with eight leading automotive firms and other companies responsible for their marketing and CRM activities.

Results highlight that, through the adoption of CRM technology, automotive firms have developed best practices that positively impact business performance and TQM, thereby strengthening their digital culture. The challenges in the implementation of CRM and BDA are also discussed.

The study suffers from limitations related to the findings' generalizability due to the restricted number of firms operating in a single industry involved in the sample.

Findings suggest new relational approaches and opportunities for automotive companies deriving from the use of CRM and BDA under an overall customer-oriented approach.

This research analyzes how CRM and BDA improve the marketing and TQM processes in the automotive industry, which is undergoing deep transformation in the current context of digital transformation.

Recent legislation in Europe and North America encourages women’s participation in corporate boards based on the belief that gender-diversified boards contribute positively to firm performance and increased competitiveness. Contrary to the West, the women’s participation rate in business has been traditionally high in China. The purpose of this paper is to find out whether gender-diverse corporate boards of Chinese automotive firms perform better financially than gender-homogeneous boards.

By drawing on data from the Chinese Government and Bloomberg, the authors compare and analyze the differences in financial performance (return on equity, asset growth, sales growth) and risk behavior (debt risk, R&D expenditure) of Chinese automotive firms with and without women on their corporate board.

There is significant evidence that firms with women on the board perform better across all three categories, with the exception of return on equity, for which they found no significant differences among the analyzed firms.

While women’s participation in corporate boards in China is low, the results of this study suggest to policy makers and firms alike to implement measures that support gender-diversified boards in order to take advantage of their potential to increase corporate performance.

So far, the performance of corporate boards of countries with a traditionally high share of female participation in the workforce has rarely been analyzed. Research focusing on the Chinese automotive industry is new and underrepresented, although China is the largest automotive market worldwide and a key industry of the domestic economy. This investigation contributes to the literature stream on board diversity in as well as to industry-related studies. With the example of the Chinese automotive industry, it provides empirical evidence of better performance of firms with gender-diversified boards within the categories tested.

Given the mixed evidence on the relationship between internationalisation and firm performance, the purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of internationalisation on the financial performance in the setting of a matured and stagnant market, the global automotive industry.

The study uses 37 automotive manufacturers covering from 2000 to 2015. Panel regression analyses were used to estimate the relationship between four financial performance variables (return on equity [ROE], return on asset [ROA], return on capital [ROC] and return on sales [ROS]) and three main independent variables (foreign assets to total assets [FATA], research and development intensity [RNDi], advertising intensity [ADVi]), controlling for product diversification, firm size, age and risk.

The findings reveal that automotive firms with a lower FATA ratio, lower RNDi and higher ADVi tend to achieve higher financial performance. However, the intensity of product diversification does not influence the financial performance of global automakers. Ceteris paribus, larger firms in terms of market capitalisation and new entrants into the market tend to have higher financial performance relative to smaller and older firms.

This study contributes to the literature first by examining the relationship between internationalisation and firm performance in the setting of a matured market, i.e. the automotive industry. Secondly, the paper uses a multinational sample at a global level; and third, it analyses financial performance on a comprehensive basis via four measures, namely, ROA, ROE, ROC and ROS, as the dependent variables.

This study aims to explore the roles and relations of dynamic capabilities (DCs) and marketing capabilities (MCs) to generate firm performance through new empirical data from the automotive industry in an emerging market, Turkey, where volatile market conditions may compel firms to use both their DCs and MCs. The automotive industry dynamic character, which is shaped by fierce competition among car manufacturers, fluctuating customer demands and strong effect of environmental forces, provides an ideal context for examining the performance outcomes of MC and DC in non-static environments. This study aims to show whether better financial performance can be achieved through an integrated MC and DC framework; if the level of environmental dynamism (ED) influences the utilization of MCs; and the impact of MC and DC convergence on firm performance by using emerging market data, which is rare in the extant literature.

This paper empirically investigates the role of MCs on the relationship between DCs and firm performance and the effect of ED in marketing capability development through a study of 162 top level managers from the automotive industry in Turkey using multiple regression methods. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. A maximum concern was given to obtain at least three questionnaires from each firm to minimize the risk of getting biased answers from only one manager.

The data were analyzed by the regression method, and the mediation and moderation tests were conducted to test the established hypotheses. The direct relationship between MCs and firm performance was examined through linear regression, and a significant relationship was found (ß = 0.408; t = 5.656; p < 0.001). Pricing (ß = 0.404; p < 0.001), marketing research (ß = 0.367; p < 0.001) and marketing strategy and implementation (ß = 0.336; p < 0.001) had the strongest association with firm performance. The mediating role of MC on the relationship between DC and firm performance was assessed, and the analysis result yielded a significant result (ß = 0.439; t = 6.174; p < 0.001). Finally, the moderating effect of ED on the direct relationship between MC and firm performance was assessed. Yet, the interaction term was insignificant (ß = 0.013; t = 0.103; p = 0.918) in predicting firm performance.

Although the data set covers a broad range of firms operating in the Turkish automotive industry, the generalization of findings should only be possible through obtaining fresh evidence from other emerging markets that possess the similar market characteristics of Turkey. The cross-sectional nature of the study may offer insights only for a certain period of time; thus, additional longitudinal studies are recommended to see the dynamic changes on the constructs and relationships between them. Future studies may also include qualitative methods, i.e. interviews with top managers to have a deeper understanding on how DC–MC interaction creates better performance.

This study empirically shows the importance of MCs for firm performance; thus, managers should allocate significant efforts and resources for improving MCs. The demand for the electric and even autonomous vehicles is likely to increase in the following years, and this new era in the automotive industry requires more R&D and innovation-based products, i.e. green vehicles with low carbon footprint, the use of robotics and long-life batteries for electric vehicles. The cost-related pricing may no longer be a competitive advantage for the firms in emerging markets such as Turkish automotive industry; thus, more investment for disruptive technologies should be considered.

The results show that MCs of firms mediated the relationship between DCs and economic performance. Yet, ED did not play a moderating role on the relationships between MCs and performance. It is concluded that DCs were associated with improved firm performance via MCs. Furthermore, the insignificant impact of ED on the development of MCs leading to better performance was explained by firms’ given over-performing efforts in the context of emerging markets.

This paper aims to understand the patterns of lean production implementation, and the relationship between three context factors (i.e. firm size, positions within the supply chain and time length of the lean initiative) and the adoption of lean production practices in firms of the automotive supply chain in Brazil.

The authors collected data from 65 companies of the automotive supply chain in Brazil. For data analysis, first a cluster analysis was performed to identify common characteristics in the companies’ context factors when considering patterns of lean implementation. Then, multivariate analysis of variance was used to investigate the differences between the context factors and the degree of use of lean practices.

High lean adopters had better performance than low lean adopters in terms of lead time, inventory and turnover. Firms at the first and second tier of the automotive supply chain were “leaner” than firms at the third tier. Large-sized firms were more likely to have a higher degree of use of lean practices than medium and smaller ones. Some, but not all, lean practices followed these patterns. Results also showed that some lean practices were most commonly adopted at the beginning of the lean journey, whereas others took more time to mature.

This paper demonstrated how lean practices were implemented at different positions within the supply chain, and the patterns of implementation often followed. It also considers lean in the context of developing countries such as Brazil.

The purpose of this paper is to analyse cooperation in R&D in the automobile industry in Spain. It first examines to what extent firms cooperate with external actors in the field of technological innovation, and if so, with what type of cooperation partner, paying special attention to the differentiation according to the size of the firms. Second, it aims to study how the firm’s size may affect not only the decision of cooperating but also with which type of partner.

The data in this study came from the surveys done in 2010 and 2013 by the Technological Innovation Panel (PITEC) for firms in the automotive industry. The paper estimates a bivariate probit model that takes into account the two types of cooperation mostly present in such an industry, vertical and institutional, explicitly considering the interdependencies that may arise in their simultaneous choice.

The empirical study confirms that small firms cooperate less frequently than big firms and that giving more importance to information publicly available and having public financial support from local and national governments are important determinants of collaboration agreements, mainly in the case of customers and suppliers.

This paper contributes to the understanding of the motivations of the automotive industry for engaging in R&D cooperation agreements. The authors study how the firm’s size may affect not only the decision of cooperating but also with which type of partner.

Technologies change quickly in the automotive industry. This can provide opportunities to firms from emerging economies who try to enter the world stage of automotive production, provided they can react to this more nimbly than established competitors. How technological change affects the supply chain coordination of incumbents from developed economies and new entrants from emerging economies should strongly determine the speed of competitive reaction. By using the example of automotive transmission development, the purpose of this paper is to provide a conceptual model for the analysis and offer research propositions.

The authors build a conceptual model based on information processing theory and offer research propositions based on case study evidence of four automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and five suppliers.

The authors find symptoms of two larger trends: increasing specialization and technological linkages and a need to increase external supply chain integration beyond traditional structures. Comparing the effects on Japanese and German incumbents, the authors find that increasing external supply chain linkages proves to be harder for Japanese OEMs. Tight links and routines in the Japanese supply chain networks may harm OEM efficiency under the new technological conditions, e.g. the lack of complete part specifications and high demands for customization. Looking at effects on emerging market firms, Chinese OEMs use quasi-open modular production settings in transmission development and lean strongly on inputs from specialized foreign tier-one suppliers. Speed advantages must be weighed against long-term disadvantages of dependence and insufficient R&D investments.

The study explores how technological change affects inter-firm development processes. The authors propose a framework and hypotheses based on information processing theory and link the findings to the discussion on the impact of national institutional context on supply chain coordination.

OEMs wanting to adapt complex existing internal structures to the changing demands for information processing should focus first on improving internal capacities by improving the amount and richness of information flow. Implementing new standards for simultaneous and standardized software development across the supply chain is a key point for this. A second step should be to boost the internal capacity to process higher richness of information, i.e. to understand the meta-knowledge necessary to integrate across technological areas in the development of electronic control units (ECUs).

The authors draw on original interview data in developed and emerging markets and information processing theory to explore the complexity of inter-firm coordination in automotive supply chains.

The primary objective of this research is to explore whether total quality management (TQM) firms execute various quality management practices significantly differently from non‐TQM firms in the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) automotive supply chain. The study also aims to analyze differences between different tiers of this supply chain and to examine the relationship between the implementation of quality management systems and adoption of TQM.

A total of 165 datasets collected from ASEAN automotive Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and their tier 1 and 2 suppliers in five ASEAN countries were tested by using cross‐tabulation analysis and ANOVA with post hoc test.

The results show that firms that have successfully implemented the concept of work standardization or process‐approach through quality management systems (QMS) certification have tended to pursue TQM as the subsequent stage in their quality journey. In addition, the study found that all seven TQM practices – leadership; strategy and planning; customer focus; information and analysis; people management; process management; and supplier involvement – were significantly higher in TQM firms than in non‐TQM firms. Finally, the study found that tier 3 suppliers were less likely to implement TQM practices compared with higher tiers (1 and 2), except in supplier involvement.

The study presents an insight into TQM constructs evolution in the ASEAN region, which has gained increased prominence and world impact as a result of international outsourcing. It therefore addresses a significant gap in the literature about how quality management is deployed in this important region of the world.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the determinants of firms’ survival during crisis in the Italian automotive value chain.

The authors propose a survival analysis, based on a dichotomic model, in which supply chain features, technical efficiency (TE) and ratings are included as explanatory variables with other controls.

TE and financial health positively influence survival. Some supply chain variables are significant such as direct supply, geographical location and outsourcing level, whereas the proximity to the national carmaker is insignificant.

The main limitation of the study is the lack of qualitative data related to supply management practice in the automotive industry.

The study combine supply chain aspects with firms’ survival, TE and financial ratings.

Today, proficient practices are required to stimulate along various boundaries of the supply chain (SC) to exploit manufacturing resources economically, effectually and gracefully for retaining operational excellence. Accordingly, varieties of paramount practices, i.e. Lean, Agile, Resilient and Green practices, are integrated in present study with the objective to develop a Decision Support Framework (DSF) to select robust supplier under the extent of Lean-Agile-Resilient-Green (LARG) practices for a manufacturing firm. The framework is developed and validated in the Indian automotive sector, where the primary data is collected based on perceptions of the respondents working in an automotive company.

LARG metrics can ponder ecological balance, customer satisfaction, associations, effectiveness and sustainability and thus, the study consolidated LARG practices in one umbrella to develop a DSF. The analytical approach under DSF is developed by the integration AHP, DEMATEL, ANP, Extended MOORA and SAW techniques in present study to evaluate a robust supplier under the aegis of LARG practices in SC. DSF is developed by scrutinizing and categorizing LARG characteristics, where the selected LARG characteristics are handled by fuzzy sets theory to deal with the impreciseness and uncertainty in decision making.

The study has identified 63 measures (15 for Lean, 15 for Agile, 14 for resilient and 19 for Green) to support the robust supplier selection process for manufacturing firms. The findings of study explicate “Internal communication agility”, “Interchangeability to personnel resources”, “Manufacturing flexibility”, “degree of online solution”, “Quickness to resource up-gradation”, “Manageability to demand and supply change”, “Overstocking inventory practices” as significant metrics in ranking order. Additionally, “Transparency to share information”, “Internal communication agility”, “Manufacturing Flexibility”, “Green product (outgoing)” are found as influential metrics under LARG practices respectively.

A technical DSF to utilize by the managers is developed, which is connected with knowledge-based theory and a case of an automobile manufacturing firm is presented to illustrate its implementation. The companies can utilize presented DSF to impose service excellence, societal performance, agility and green surroundings in SC for achieving sustainable outcomes to be welcomed by the legislations, society and rivals. The framework represents an important decision support tool to enable managers to overcome imprecise SC information sources.

The study presented a proficient platform to review the most significant LARG alternative in the SC. The study suggested a cluster of LARG metrics to support operational improvement in manufacturing firms for shifting gear toward sustainable SC practices. The present study embraces its existence in enrolling a high extent of collaboration amongst clients, project teams and LARG practices to virtually eradicate the likelihood of absolute project failure.