Changing the Game in the U.S. Auto Industry: The Role of Technology Movement Organizations

How do technology movement organizations (TMOs) create new political contexts for innovation within established industries? This study is informed by theories found in social movements and the sociology of technology literature to establish a broad and more systematic mapping of movement influence in technological change. I employ a mixed-method approach to understand how TMOs use cognitive and relational mechanisms of influence to shift industry practices towards plug-in vehicle technology within the U.S. automotive sector between 2003-2009. This research reveals that hybrid organizational roles, field-framing, and network collaborations have facilitated TMO goals for stimulating plug-in vehicle industry and policy support during this time. The methodological framework established by this study may be useful for an analysis of emerging technology movements in other industries as well.