Blockchain Adoption for a Circular Economy in the Chinese Automotive Industry: Identification of Influencing Factors Using an Integrated TOE-TAM Model

Although the potential of the blockchain has been extensively recognized by scholars and practitioners across multiple fields, research on its adoption in the framework of the circular economy (CE) is still scarce. In this context, this study extends the technology acceptance model (TAM) by integrating the technology–organization–environment (TOE) framework to holistically understand how technological perception factors (perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use) interact with organizational and environmental factors in influencing the intention to adopt the blockchain in the CE within the context of the Chinese automotive supply chain. Based on survey data from 305 respondents from Chinese automotive companies, the proposed hybrid TOE-TAM conceptual model was validated. The results indicate that, except for the effects of the knowledge management capability on the perceived ease of use and regulatory support on blockchain adoption intention, all of the other hypotheses are deemed significant. Moreover, by conducting an in-depth analysis of the evolution of blockchain adoption intention in the CE, this study not only deepens the understanding of how the technology is disseminated but also provides valuable insights to theory and practice within the Chinese automotive value chain.