Study Overview
This is an open-access academic study published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. on behalf of AEDEM, with the DOI 10.1016/j.iedeen.2023.100230. It examines how major trends in the automotive industry are reconfiguring digital mobility business models, focusing on sustainability, connectivity, and Autonomous Vehicles (AVs).
Methodology
The study takes a combined Dynamic Capabilities and Ecosystems approach to characterize the business models of four carmakers: Volkswagen, Stellantis, Toyota, and Honda.
Key Findings on Value Propositions
- Carmakers differ in their focal digital mobility value propositions, based mainly on their own mobility strategies.
- Volkswagen exhibits an integral proposition with personalized services.
- Stellantis focuses on electric mobility and its solutions.
- Toyota focuses on autonomous and connectivity services.
- Honda takes a user-centric perspective via connected and shared mobility.
Income Sources and Capabilities
The main income sources are multiple personalized services linked to connectivity that provide driver assistance, along with remote and digital platform services. Services such as remote electric driving, autonomous door-to-door deliveries, and car-sharing generate primary income for carmakers pursuing sustainable, autonomous, or shared mobility strategies. These services rely on technical resources such as digital skills and data exchange systems, but primarily on organizational capabilities such as a "team-player mentality" and a customer-focused vision.
Why It Matters for Sustainable Mobility
The study reports differences in sustainability among manufacturers but finds that, in general terms, all manufacturers are striving to address the battery and charging-point issue through various business models to promote electric mobility. It concludes that carmakers govern a digital mobility ecosystem configured by multiple service and technology providers developing transportation solutions.