2021 Volume 24 Pages 55-62
This study contributes to the literature on the production capabilities of Japanese automotive industries in ASEAN5 countries using re-conceptualized Rugman, Verbeke & Yuan typology of subsidiary roles. In conclusions, Japanese automotive MNCs has capabilities of transferring and combining superior knowledge in value chain activities such as production, sales and administrative feature with location advantageous found in FDI studies. Furthermore, this analysis showed that Japanese automotive companies did not operated in core business of overseas subsidiaries with the exception that R&D activities which was more externally-controlled than academic notions in late-nineties.