The DOI matches its Crossref record; 16 of the 16 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Transnational Corporations and ‘Obligated Embeddedness’: Foreign Direct Investment in China's Automobile Industry
Abstract
With the aid of an empirical case study of the automobile industry in China, we explore how, under certain political–economic conditions, the investments of transnational corporations (TNCs) can be shaped to meet the state's objectives. We develop the concept of ‘obligated embeddedness’ to capture the dynamics of this process. We show that foreign direct investment in the automobile industry in China is a type of market-led and embedded investment which is characterised by joint ventures and the follow-up network configurations. However, to achieve such obligated embeddedness on the part of TNCs—and for the state and its citizens to gain its benefits—the state not only has to have the theoretical capacity to control access to assets located within its territory, but also the power actually to determine such access.
Overview
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Verification
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
In the citing paper
“This is the case with ''obligated embeddedness'' (Liu & Dicken, 2006: 1238) of automotive MNEs in China, where the government's industrial policy dictates that inward FDI should take a JV form.”
From Global value chains: A review of the multi-disciplinary literature (2020) · cites this paper as Liu & Dicken, 2006
In the citing paper
“Host country institutions can both attract investment by lead firms through policies encouraging local content and promoting local supplier linkages (Amendolagine et al., 2019;Dawley, MacKinnon, & Pollock, 2019;Liu & Dicken, 2006;Sturgeon et al., 2008;Yeung, 2016), and deter such investment due to insufficient IP protection and underdeveloped legal systems (Gooris & Peeters, 2016).”
From Global value chains: A review of the multi-disciplinary literature (2020) · cites this paper as Liu & Dicken, 2006
Citations
Cites
Global production networks and the analysis of economic development
Henderson, J., Dicken, P., Hess, M., Coe, N., & Yeung, H. W.-C. (2002) · Review of International Political Economy · doi:10.1080/09692290210150842 · Cited by 2,216
Self-citation‘Globalizing’ regional development: a global production networks perspective
Coe, N. M., Heß, M., Yeung, H. W., Dicken, P., & Henderson, J. (2004) · Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers · doi:10.1111/j.0020-2754.2004.00142.x · Cited by 1,442
Self-citation‘Spatial’ relationships? Towards a reconceptualization of embedded ness
Heß, M. (2004) · Progress in Human Geography · doi:10.1191/0309132504ph479oa · Cited by 1,002
Allen, J. (2003) · Wiley eBooks · doi:10.1002/9780470773321 · Cited by 952
Stopford, J. M., Strange, S., & Henley, J. S. (1991) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511549830 · Cited by 536
Global Shift: Reshaping the Global Economic Map in the 21st Century
Musson, S. (2004) · Journal of Economic Geography · doi:10.1093/jeg/4.2.220 · Cited by 477
Firms in Territories: A Relational Perspective
Dicken, P., & Malmberg, A. (2001) · Economic Geography · doi:10.2307/3594105 · Cited by 213
Self-citationGlobalization of Chinese business firms
Yeung, H. W., & Olds, K. (2000) · Cited by 168
Assembler-Supplier Relations in the Auto Industry: Globalisation and National Development
HUMPHREY, J. D. (2000) · Competition & Change · doi:10.1177/102452940000400301 · Cited by 102
Sit, V. F. S., & Liu, W. (2000) · Annals of the Association of American Geographers · doi:10.1111/0004-5608.00216 · Cited by 80
Self-citation
Flagged first, then by citations
Research works printed but not linked: 11
- Brown P, 1997, Automotive News, 14
- Clark T, 1997, Industry Week, 126
- Dicken P, 1994, Globalisation, Institutions and Regional Development in Europe, 23
- EIU, 1997, Multinational Companies in China: Winners and Losers
- Gardner G, 1997, Ward's Auto World, 33, 69
- Oliver N, 1998, Inside the Chinese Automotive Industry
- Reuvid J, 1994, Doing Business with China
- Wang JJ, 2000, China's Regions, Polity, and Economy, 217
- Wheelon Co. Ltd, 2002, Foreign-Invested Enterprises in China's Automotive Industry (Version 2001–2002)
- Xie W, 1997, Automotive Industry Research, 3, 17
- Yeung HW-C, 2004, Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers, New Series, 29, 1
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Items 101–196 of 196
Catching-up in the semiconductor industry: comparing the Chinese and Malaysian experience
Wang, H., & Lim, G. (2021) · Asian Journal of Technology Innovation · doi:10.1080/19761597.2021.2007144 · Cited by 9
Lim, G. (2014) · Journal of Current Southeast Asian Affairs · doi:10.1177/186810341403300203 · Cited by 9
van Tuijl, E., Carvalho, L., van Winden, W., & Jacobs, W. (2012) · European Planning Studies · doi:10.1080/09654313.2012.713329 · Cited by 9
Polyalignment as geoeconomic bridging: Hungary’s reindustrialisation amid global protectionism
Gagyi, Á., & Gerőcs, T. (2025) · Third World Quarterly · doi:10.1080/01436597.2025.2525233 · Cited by 8
Koo, Y., & Kim, S. (2022) · Area Development and Policy · doi:10.1080/23792949.2022.2058569 · Cited by 8
Mapping global financial networks: a spatial analysis of Chinese companies’ overseas listings
Pan, F., & Fang, C. (2022) · Transactions in Planning and Urban Research · doi:10.1177/27541223221116124 · Cited by 8
Crisis, Resilience and Survival: Lessons from the Global Auto Industry
Holweg, M., & Oliver, N. (2015) · Cited by 8
Donnelly, T., Collis, C., & Begley, J. (2010) · International Journal of Automotive Technology and Management · doi:10.1504/ijatm.2010.032629 · Cited by 8
New economic geographies of manufacturing in China
Zhu, S., & Lan, T. (2016) · Geography Compass · doi:10.1111/gec3.12297 · Cited by 8
Liu, Y., Yeung, G. K.-Y., Zhang, Y., Huang, K., Zhang, X., & Liu, Y. (2023) · Global Networks · doi:10.1111/glob.12459 · Cited by 7
China’s Changing National and Regional Innovation Systems and Regional Distribution of R&D
Zhang, F., Wu, F., & Cooke, P. (2010) · Geography Compass · doi:10.1111/j.1749-8198.2010.00323.x · Cited by 7
Progress of economic geography in China’s mainland since 2000
Liu, W., Song, Z., & Liu, Z. (2016) · Journal of Geographical Sciences · doi:10.1007/s11442-016-1313-0 · Cited by 7
Self-citationEast Asian Capitalisms and Economic Geographies
Yeung, H. W. (2012) · Wiley eBooks · doi:10.1002/9781118384497.ch7 · Cited by 7
Faulconbridge, J. (2008) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.1155053 · Cited by 7
Zhu, S., & He, C. (2022) · Area Development and Policy · doi:10.1080/23792949.2022.2061542 · Cited by 7
Car makers and upgrading: Renault in Romania
van Tuijl, E. (2014) · Journal of Business Strategy · doi:10.1108/jbs-07-2013-0049 · Cited by 6
Zhu, S., Huang, Y., & Xiaohui, H. U. (2020) · 地理科学进展 · doi:10.18306/dlkxjz.2020.08.011 · Cited by 6
Does ownership matter for industrial agglomeration in China?
He, C., & Wang, J. (2012) · Asian Geographer · doi:10.1080/10225706.2012.662312 · Cited by 6
Wang, Q. (2011) · International Journal of Automotive Technology and Management · doi:10.1504/ijatm.2011.039539 · Cited by 6
Middle-Technology Trap: The Case of Automotive Industry in Turkey
Akçomak, İ. S., & Bürken, S. (2020) · Palgrave studies in democracy, innovation, and entrepreneurship for growth · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-51995-7_11 · Cited by 8
Economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the automobile industry
Radić, N., Radić, V., & Mirjana, S. (2020) · Oditor - casopis za Menadzment finansije i pravo · doi:10.5937/oditor2003055r · Cited by 6
Zheng, Z., Song, Z., Ji, Q., & Xiong, W. (2021) · Growth and Change · doi:10.1111/grow.12476 · Cited by 6
Proximity and Learning in Internationalisation : Small Swedish IT firms in India
Westermark, K. (2013) · DiVA (Stockholm University) · Cited by 6
Näsman, M., Hane‐Weijman, E., & Eriksson, R. H. (2026) · Progress in Economic Geography · doi:10.1016/j.peg.2026.100066 · Cited by 5
Challenges for the Indonesian Automotive Cluster
Irawati, D. (2010) · Regional Insights · doi:10.1080/20429843.2010.9628234 · Cited by 5
Han, X. Z., Liu, W., & Jiang, T. (2023) · Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers · doi:10.1111/tran.12645 · Cited by 5
Self-citationSial, F. (2020) · Geoforum · doi:10.1016/j.geoforum.2020.03.011 · Cited by 6
Gao, Y., & Kenworthy, J. R. (2016) · The urban book series · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-43851-1_3 · Cited by 5
Jones, C. (2023) · Regional Studies · doi:10.1080/00343404.2023.2236638 · Cited by 5
Beyond the joint-venture: knowledge sourcing in Chinese automotive events
van Tuijl, E., Carvalho, L., & Dittrich, K. (2018) · Industry and Innovation · doi:10.1080/13662716.2017.1414749 · Cited by 5
Jones, A. (2018) · Edward Elgar Publishing eBooks · doi:10.4337/9781785365805.00018 · Cited by 5
Mapping the global FDI landscape: network linkages and regional disparities
Chen, W., Zhao, X., Wang, N., & Zhang, H. (2025) · Regional Studies Regional Science · doi:10.1080/21681376.2025.2486824 · Cited by 4
Eyre, P. W., & Grover, D. (2024) · European Urban and Regional Studies · doi:10.1177/09697764241276196 · Cited by 4
Racing to the top? Catch-up strategies of Chinese and Indian independent car manufacturers
Bruche, G., & Wäldchen, D. (2013) · International Journal of Automotive Technology and Management · doi:10.1504/ijatm.2013.052778 · Cited by 4
Fluctuation of the Chinese Automobile Market during and after the Financial Crisis
Wang, H. (2015) · Palgrave Macmillan UK eBooks · doi:10.1057/9781137516176_6 · Cited by 4
Localisation Processes within Global Production Networks: Automobile Component Sourcing in Thailand
Hassler, M. (2011) · doi:10.12854/erde.v142i4.32 · Cited by 4
Foreign Direct Investment and the Development of the Automotive Industry
Pavlínek, P. (2017) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-53955-3_1 · Cited by 4
What Do Malaysian Firms Seek in Vietnam?
Lim, G. (2017) · Journal of Asia-Pacific Business · doi:10.1080/10599231.2017.1309619 · Cited by 4
Boyadjieva, P., Ilieva-Trichkova, P., Milenkova, V. G., & Stoilova, R. (2020) · International Journal of Lifelong Education · doi:10.1080/02601370.2020.1734676 · Cited by 4
The Emergence of China and India as New Competitors in MNCs' Innovation
Bruche, N. G. (2009) · Cited by 3
Mapping interaction patterns of German IT and engineering services for automotive applications
Schwabe, J., & Hassler, M. (2020) · Geographica Helvetica · doi:10.5194/gh-75-123-2020 · Cited by 3
Jipa-Muşat, I. (2024) · European Urban and Regional Studies · doi:10.1177/09697764241261855 · Cited by 3
Jipa-Muşat, I., Campling, L., & Prevezer, M. (2024) · Journal of Economic Geography · doi:10.1093/jeg/lbae051 · Cited by 5
Huang, Y., Cui, Z., Zhu, S., & Zhang, Y. (2025) · Regional Studies · doi:10.1080/00343404.2025.2470885 · Cited by 3
Exploring brand preference and its spatial patterns in the Chinese automobile market
Liu, Z., Song, W., Liu, D., & Lu, J. (2018) · Journal of Spatial Science · doi:10.1080/14498596.2018.1488631 · Cited by 3
Przemysł dwu- i trzykołowych pojazdów silnikowych (PTW) w Europie. Przykład Piaggio Group
Dorocki, S. (2018) · Prace Komisji Geografii Komunikacji PTG · doi:10.4467/2543859xpkg.18.006.9186 · Cited by 3
Pavlínek, P. (2017) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-53955-3_4 · Cited by 3
Tan, X., Zhu, P., & Singh, R. (2024) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.4743969 · Cited by 3
The urban politics of strategic coupling in global production networks
Bok, R., & Coe, N. M. (2018) · Routledge eBooks · doi:10.4324/9781315712468-9 · Cited by 2
Regional Shift in the Global Automotive Sector
Şimşek, M. C. (2019) · Advances in Economics and Business · doi:10.13189/aeb.2019.070501 · Cited by 2
Social Upgrading, a Mixed Bag: The Indian IT/ITES Sector
Noronha, E., & D’Cruz, P. (2022) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-87320-2_7 · Cited by 2
Knowledge source switching under state interventions of latecomer regions: A case study of Shenzhen
Yang, J., & Liu, W. (2024) · Technology in Society · doi:10.1016/j.techsoc.2024.102730 · Cited by 2
Self-citationJoint ventures and the development of the Chinese automotive industry
Collis, C., & Donnelly, T. (2012) · International Journal of Automotive Technology and Management · doi:10.1504/ijatm.2012.051358 · Cited by 2
Mostofian, B. (2023) · European Journal of Economics · doi:10.33422/eje.v3i2.491 · Cited by 2
The State and the Development of the Automotive Industry
Pavlínek, P. (2017) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-53955-3_6 · Cited by 2
van der Borg, J., & van Tuijl, E. (2012) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.1983882 · Cited by 2
'Impacts of Tourism-related Foreign Direct Investment in Barbados: Local Experienced 'Realities'
Jönsson, C. H. (2018) · Sheffield Hallam University · doi:10.7190/shu-thesis-00215 · Cited by 2
Captive Coupling in the Electronics Industry: Relocation, Localization, and Local Upgrading
Liu, Y. (2020) · Economic geography · doi:10.1007/978-981-15-4297-8_5 · Cited by 1
Location of Chinese automobile manufacturing enterprises and influencing factors
Li, X., Li, W. H., & Li, M. (2023) · 地理科学进展 · doi:10.18306/dlkxjz.2023.10.011 · Cited by 1
Jiang, H., Zhang, J., Chen, J., & Jin, X. (2025) · Chinese Geographical Science · doi:10.1007/s11769-025-1579-1 · Cited by 1
Walmrath, L. L. (2022) · Novos Rumos Sociológicos · doi:10.15210/norus.v10i17.22510 · Cited by 1
Lim, G., & Xu, C. (2022) · Chinese Economy · doi:10.1080/10971475.2022.2136692 · Cited by 1
Political and Institutional Embeddedness of FDI: a case study of Nissan in Rio, Brazil
Walmrath, L. L., & dos Santos, R. S. P. (2024) · Revista Brasileira de Ciências Sociais · doi:10.1590/39001/2024 · Cited by 1
朱晟君, Shengjun, Z., 王冲, & Chong, W. (2018) · 地理科学进展 · doi:10.18306/dlkxjz.2018.07.001 · Cited by 1
Reciprocal Coupling and Industrial Upgrading in the Automotive Industry: The Balance of Interplay
Liu, Y. (2020) · Economic geography · doi:10.1007/978-981-15-4297-8_7 · Cited by 1
Events as Spaces for Upgrading: Automotive Events in ShanghaiPreprint
van Tuijl, E., & Dittrich, K. (2014) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.2495162 · Cited by 1
Corporations and the Nation‐State
Yeung, H. W. (2017) · International Encyclopedia of Geography · doi:10.1002/9781118786352.wbieg0647 · Cited by 1
Chang, C. (2009) · SSRN Electronic Journal
da Mota, A. A., Prudente, F. –. P., & Marighetti, A. (2011) · Revista Geográfica de América Central
Tan, H., & Ai, Q. (2012) · Palgrave Macmillan UK eBooks · doi:10.1057/9781137010988_7
Economic Globalization and Local Responses
He, C., Du, D., Tong, X., Pan, F., Mao, X., & Chen, T. (2016) · Springer geography · doi:10.1007/978-981-10-1884-8_12
Going against the grain? Brazil and the global furniture production network
Sloop, J. B. (2016)
Pavlínek, P. (2017) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-53955-3_5
Unpacking the Geography of Industrial Upgrading
Liu, Y. (2020) · Economic geography · doi:10.1007/978-981-15-4297-8_2
The Geographies of Industrial Upgrading
Liu, Y. (2020) · Economic geography · doi:10.1007/978-981-15-4297-8_8
The Interaction Between Strategic Coupling and Industrial Upgrading: A Framework
Liu, Y. (2020) · Economic geography · doi:10.1007/978-981-15-4297-8_3
Walmrath, L. L. (2020) · CSOnline - REVISTA ELETRÔNICA DE CIÊNCIAS SOCIAIS · doi:10.34019/1981-2140.2020.29237
Indian Companies’ Global Aspirations in East Central Europe
Gerőcs, T. (2020) · Studies in economic transition · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-55165-0_4
潘少奇, Shaoqi, P., 李亚婷, 苗长虹, 李江苏, 吕可文, Yating, L., Changhong, M., Li, J., & Kewen, L. (2018) · 地理科学进展 · doi:10.18306/dlkxjz.2018.06.011
Zhu, S., Pickles, J., & He, C. (2017) · Springer geography · doi:10.1007/978-3-662-53601-8_2
Pavlínek, P. (2017) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-53955-3_3
(2019) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-814847-1.00020-8
Zhu, S., Pickles, J., & He, C. (2017) · Springer geography · doi:10.1007/978-3-662-53601-8_1
Gao, S., Ran, Z., Li, Y., & Pan, S. (2022) · Complexity · doi:10.1155/2022/9050029
(2023) · Emerald Group Publishing Limited eBooks · doi:10.1108/978-1-80262-245-420231014
Carmody, P., Murphy, J. T., Grant, R., & Owusu, F. Y. (2023) · Wiley eBooks · doi:10.1002/9781119833635.biblio
Yang, J., & Liu, W. (2023) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.4624913
Self-citationAlberti, G., & Sacchetto, D. (2024) · Bristol University Press eBooks · doi:10.51952/9781529227765.bm003
Liu, Y., Yingtiao, L., & Jiehan, J. (2024) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-25900-5_64-1
Sorokina, O., & Schwabe, J. (2025) · Progress in Economic Geography · doi:10.1016/j.peg.2025.100059
The Development of the Automotive Industry in Less Developed Countries
Pavlínek, P. (2026) · Palgrave studies of internationalization in emerging markets · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-76410-3_3
Yi, L., Yingtiao, L., & Jiehan, J. (2025) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-92524-5_64
Galbraith, E., & Diez, J. R. (2026) · Area Development and Policy · doi:10.1080/23792949.2026.2667164
Global strategy in a changing world: Why we need classic theories
Kano, L. L., & Welch, C. (2026) · Global Strategy Journal · doi:10.1002/gsj.70028
Feng, K., 赵嘉, Fu, Y., & Li, X. (2026) · Systems · doi:10.3390/systems14101322
Metadata
- Authors
- Liu, W., & Dicken, P.
- Affiliations
- Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN)
- University of Manchester (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Liu, Weidong
- Dicken, Peter
- ORCID
- Liu, Weidong
- Venue
- Environment and Planning A: Economy and Space
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2006-07
- Volume
- 38
- Issue
- 7
- Pages
- 1229-1247
- ISSN
- 0308-518X (ISSN-L)
- 1472-3409
- OpenAlex
- W1984199748
- Cited by
- 198
- References
- 16
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 17 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 18 · 2017: 16 · 2016: 12 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 12 · 2013: 11 · 2012: 10
- FWCI
- 17.59
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Environment and Planning A Economy and Space (publishedVersion)
- RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
- Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, CAS Institutional Repository (submittedVersion)
- Research Explorer (The University of Manchester) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Strategy and Management › International Business and FDI
- Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Strategy and Management › Global trade, sustainability, and social impact
- Social Sciences › Economics, Econometrics and Finance › General Economics, Econometrics and Finance › Economic Zones and Regional Development
- Keywords
- multinational corporations, foreign direct investment, automotive industry, joint ventures, China
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review