Analysis of sustainable socio-technical transition - unpacking the development of the NEV sector from the early 2000s through an innovative conceptual framework

Tsou, Cheng-ting (2025) Analysis of sustainable socio-technical transition - unpacking the development of the NEV sector from the early 2000s through an innovative conceptual framework. PhD thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

This research investigates the significant growth of China’s New Energy Vehicle (NEV) sector from the early 2000s to the 2020s, evolving from a niche market to a central player in the automotive industry. While previous studies have focused mainly on singular factors, such as policy impacts, this study introduces the Global, Internal, and External Sociotechnical System (GIESTS) Framework, an advanced adaptation of the Multi-Level Perspective (MLP), to analyse China’s NEV transition comprehensively through providing a multidimensional view of China’s electrification journey.

Additionally, the study introduces the Resources-Capabilities Analytics (RCA) Framework to examine firm-level transitions, drawing on the resource-based view and dynamic capability theory. This framework allows for comparisons between different types of automakers, offering more profound insights into how firms navigate the NEV sector’s challenges and opportunities.

Using a mixed-methods approach, combining secondary data analysis, participatory observation, and expert interviews, the research explores the roles of key stakeholders, transition pathways, and how China’s government’s role compares to that of developed countries. It also examines interactions between various transition layers using the GIESTS Framework, revealing how the various factors have influenced the sector’s growth.

The findings provide strategic insights for policymakers and industry leaders, proposing a systematic methodology for understanding complex transitions in socio-technical systems. This thesis significantly contributes to scholarly discussions on socio-technical transitions and offers a valuable guide for stakeholders involved in the ongoing transformation of the NEV industry.

• Item Type: Thesis (PhD)
• Qualification Level: Doctoral
• Subjects: H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor; H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > HD28 Management. Industrial Management
• Colleges/Schools: College of Social Sciences > Adam Smith Business School
• Supervisor's Name: Kim, Dr. Dong-Hyu and Yeo, Dr. Wee Meng
• Date of Award: 2025
• Depositing User: Theses Team
• Unique ID: glathesis:2025-85046
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 11 Apr 2025 13:55
• Last Modified: 11 Apr 2025 13:58
• Thesis DOI: 10.5525/gla.thesis.85046
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/85046