INSIDE THE DYNAMICS OF INDUSTRIAL CAPITALISM: THE MASS PRODUCTION OF CARS IN SPAIN, 1950-1985

• Published in: Revista de historia económica 2014-09, Vol.32 (2), p.287-315
• Main Author: FERNÁNDEZ-DE-SEVILLA, TOMÀS
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Articles/Artículos; Automobile industry; Automobile production; Automobiles; Capitalism; Case studies; Economic history; Economies of scale; Evolution; FASA-Renault; Industrial policy; Industrial Revolution; Manufacturing; Market share; Market shares; Production; Profit; Profits; Ratings & rankings; SEAT; Spain; Studies; Success
• ISSN: 0212-6109; 2041-3335
• DOI: 10.1017/S0212610914000093

In 2010 Spain ranked second among EU-15 countries in the manufacture of passenger cars; however, in 1950 the country’s car production had been purely symbolic. Taking as its starting point the trajectories of the enterprises that have shaped the auto industry in Spain, this study explores the sector’s process of development within the interpretative framework proposed by Alfred D. Chandler in Scale and Scope. Until the mid-1970s, SEAT and FASA-Renault, the sector’s first-movers, maintained their position as industry leaders. The entry of Ford and GM in the 1970s was to restructure the industry as it shifted its focus towards exportation to the European Economic Community. Both market share and net profits are used as indicators of the evolution of each car maker. En 2010 España figuró en el segundo puesto en producción de automóviles de turismo entre los países de la UE-15. No obstante, en 1950 la producción de coches era puramente testimonial. Siguiendo el marco interpretativo propuesto por Alfred D. Chandler en Scale and Scope, el trabajo explora el proceso de desarrollo de esta industria a partir de las trayectorias de las distintas empresas. Hasta mediados de los setenta, SEAT y FASA-Renault, definidas como first-movers, mantuvieron su posición como líderes del sector. La entrada de Ford y GM alteró la estructura de la industria, que se orientó hacia la exportación a la CEE. La cuota de mercado y los beneficios netos se utilizan como indicadores de la evolución de cada fabricante.