An Exploratory Study of Competitive Strategy and Performance in Chinese Automotive Industry

Abstract

Purpose - The purpose of this study was to analyze the impact of a company s competitive strategy on corporate performance in the highly competitive Chinese automotive industry. Design/methodology/approach - This study collected 14 survey data from automotive companies in China which be listed more than one year. We chosen the exploratory study with deriving research assignments, and the final research results are presented as propositions to proceed with the study. Findings - First, in the Chinese automobile industry, a company s competition strategy has a positive impact on corporate performance. and also the Differentiation strategy and the Low-cost strategy both have a positive impact on corporate performance. In addition, a company pursuing the Differentiation strategy that it would achieve better corporate performance than a company pursuing the Low-cost strategy. Second, it has been shown that the hybrid strategy rather than the pure strategy in the Chinese automobile industry can achieve higher corporate performance. Research implications or Originality - First, the type of competitive strategy in Chinese automotive industry were identified through the original strategies presented by Porter and Murray, and the impact of the Low-cost and the Differentiation strategies on corporate performance was analyzed. Second, contributing to the study of pure and hybrid strategies that are still under discussion now. Third, it also suggested practical implications that companies in China s automotive industry should pursue cost or differentiation advantages to secure competitive advantage.