The comprehensive device industry of the automotive sector, which produces a single product from around 20,000 to 30,000 materials and components, is undergoing rapid changes with the emergence of Industry 4.0. Trends such as Automated Driving and Ele...
The comprehensive device industry of the automotive sector, which produces a single product from around 20,000 to 30,000 materials and components, is undergoing rapid changes with the emergence of Industry 4.0. Trends such as Automated Driving and Electrification are spreading, contributing to various transformations. Over 10% of global automotive sales already consist of electrified vehicles, and autonomous driving-based services like robo-taxis are on the brink of commercialization. These changes in the automotive industry are rooted in the innovative efforts of various stakeholders.
In addition, the differences in factors such as labor, technology, and capital between countries are diminishing with the advent of Industry 4.0. However, due to high entry barriers, more than 70% of global automotive industry trade occurs among advanced countries, including OECD nations. Moreover, the demand for product diversity among consumers is leading to a rapid increase in international trade.
This study analyzes the changes in competitiveness resulting from intellectual property applications and price differentiation efforts in the Korean automotive industry over the past 20 years, focusing on 45 target countries. The study distinguishes the automotive industry into complete vehicles, electrical and electronic components, and others, improving upon previous research. To assess comparative advantages, dynamic analysis using industry trade boxes was conducted, and explanatory variables were selected based on cumulative patent filings for stock-based years in the United States according to the matching table of HS-IPC codes released by the patent office, ensuring data objectivity compared to previous studies.
The results indicate that intellectual property applications and price differentiation efforts for technological innovation contribute to the expansion of market share in the areas of complete vehicles and electrical/electronic components. In particular, intellectual property applications for technological innovation in the electrical and electronic components sector are analyzed to have a positive impact on the improvement of the Trade Specialization Index (TSI) with the 45 target countries and the expansion of the intra-industry trade ratio. This suggests an increasing demand for Korean electrical and electronic products from global automotive companies in this sector. Korean automotive companies are also expanding the use of imported products with performance, functionality, quality, and technology equivalent to domestic products to meet diverse consumer needs. In summary, intellectual property applications for technological innovation in the electrical and electronic components sector, leading the trends of autonomous driving and electrification in the automotive industry, are contributing not only to securing export comparative advantages over the past 20 years but also to expanding intra-industry trade ratios with target countries, including OECD members. This can be seen as a positive signal for the future growth prospects of the Korean automotive industry.