Why is Europe falling behind in the electric vehicle race?

Date: 15 April 2026, 13:40 – 15:10 

Location: Corvinus University of Budapest, Building C, Auditorium IX.  

Language of the event: English 

In his paper entitled Das Auto and the Second China Shock: Industrial Policy and the Disruption of Technological Incumbency, Cornel Ban examines why Germany has fallen behind China in the electric vehicle transition despite its strong industrial base, He argues that the key lies not in firm strategy, but in differences in state coordination and industrial policy. 

This research seminar is organized by the Political Economy Research Group of the Institute of Social and Political Sciences (TPI). Cornel Ban is Associate Professor at Copenhagen Business School and Research Associate at the Global Development Policy Center, specializing in comparative and international political economy. His main research areas are geoeconomics, green transition and economic planning. He is also external reviewer for the International Monetary Fund’s fiscal policy review by the institution’s internal watchdog (Independent Evaluation Office).