Localization to globalization: the spatial logic of dual circulation and its driving factors in China’s battery electric vehicle industry

Ziyun Ruan, Yanan Jiao, Jiaze Sun, Anna Yu, Ailing Wu and Peng Du ()
Additional contact information
Ziyun Ruan: Liaoning Normal University
Yanan Jiao: Liaoning Normal University
Jiaze Sun: Tsinghua University
Anna Yu: Shanghai University of International Business and Economics
Ailing Wu: Ningbo University of Finance and Economics
Peng Du: Liaoning Normal University

Palgrave Communications, 2025, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-18

Abstract: Abstract To achieve the goals of “carbon peaking and carbon neutrality” and promote high-quality economic development, China is vigorously developing new energy and strategic emerging industries. Based on the enterprises, customs trade data from 2000 to 2022, this study applies kernel density estimation, standard deviation ellipse, and spatial Durbin model to discuss the battery electric vehicle (BEV) industry’s spatial organization pattern in China and worldwide, along with the characteristics of its development stage and driving factors. The results demonstrated that: (1) from internal circulation (ICI), China's BEV industry’s inter-firm linkages are spatially heterogeneous, multinuclear, with increasingly indicated characteristics of “large dispersion and small agglomeration”. (2) From external circulation (ECI), the BEV industry shows notable path dependence and agglomeration effects. Upstream imports are highly dependent on lithium-rich countries. Midstream export is active, with more trade-advantage regions than trade-disadvantage regions. Downstream supply and demand are growing, and its exports are on an upward trajectory. (3) From dual circulation (DCI), the organizational structure presents a network pattern with the eastern coastal region serving as the nucleus of commodity trading. The main drivers for industrial spatial organization have progressively transformed from being policy-driven to a multi-dimensional focus on technology and market. (4) Economic development, industrial structure and technological innovation have significantly influenced the spatial distribution of China’s BEV industry and propelled the evolution of global BEV trade patterns. This research illustrates the fundamental principles regarding the spatial organization of China’s BEV industry, clarifies each region’s status within DCI, and promotes the green and low-carbonization of economic development.

Date: 2025
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
http://link.springer.com/10.1057/s41599-025-05829-1 Abstract (text/html)
Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:pal:palcom:v:12:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1057_s41599-025-05829-1

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
https://www.nature.com/palcomms/about

DOI: 10.1057/s41599-025-05829-1

Access Statistics for this article

More articles in Palgrave Communications from Palgrave Macmillan
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().