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Energy transition is reshaping global industrial competitiveness: IETS Fellows in China Daily

IETS Fellows Professor Xunpeng Shi and Professor Nophea Sasaki have contributed a commentary to China Daily examining how the energy transition is reshaping industrial competitiveness, international trade, investment and global value chains.

Using Thailand’s rapidly changing automotive sector as a case study, the commentary examines how the shift from internal-combustion vehicles to electric vehicles is changing the technological foundations of automotive competitiveness. As the relative importance of engines and mechanical systems gives way to batteries, power electronics, software and digital technologies, established industrial advantages are being challenged and new sources of competitiveness are emerging.

Thailand provides a particularly revealing example. The rapid growth of electric vehicles has been accompanied by a changing competitive balance between Japanese and Chinese automakers, increased automobile trade with China, new Chinese investment in local EV production, and the emergence of more diversified regional production and supply networks.

The commentary argues that these developments point to a much wider transformation. The energy transition is not simply changing how energy is produced and consumed. It is also changing which countries hold industrial advantage, where firms invest and produce, how international trade is organised, and who captures value from emerging low-carbon technologies and supply chains.

The commentary builds on the authors’ recent IETS Policy Analysis, Beyond EV Adoption: Industrial Policy, Carbon Finance and Thailand’s Automotive Transition, which provides a more detailed examination of Thailand’s EV transition, including industrial development, domestic value creation, investment, infrastructure, carbon finance and distributional impacts.

Read the commentary in China Daily:
https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202608/13/WS6a7cb671a31073853ec5302b.html

Read the full IETS Policy Analysis:
https://iets.cc/beyond-ev-adoption/

IETS expertise

This work reflects IETS’ broader expertise in the interaction between energy transition, industrial competitiveness, international investment and global value chains. IETS supports governments, development partners, investors and enterprises through policy and market analysis, industrial and investment strategy, market-entry preparation, cross-border investment analysis, carbon-market and sustainability assessment, and customised executive training.

For research, advisory, investment-preparation or project collaboration, contact info@iets.cc.