Mapping the Landscape of Logistics Outsourcing and Performance: A Bibliometric Analysis of the Automotive Sector

Résumé

This article explores the evolving academic landscape surrounding logistics outsourcing and
its impact on performance in the automotive industry, a domain where cost control, agility,
and operational efficiency are vital. The study is grounded in the observation that while
logistics outsourcing has become a widespread strategic practice, the literature on its
performance implications remains fragmented and inconsistent. To address this gap, the
research adopts a bibliometric approach, and uses data extracted from the Scopus database.
The methodology combines performance metrics with science mapping techniques—
particularly keyword co-occurrence, author and country analysis, and thematic clustering
using VOSviewer—to examine the structure, development, and main intellectual
contributions of the field. Each analytical layer builds upon the previous one: starting from the
volume and origins of publications, progressing through thematic and disciplinary patterns,
and culminating in a critical confrontation of theoretical perspectives from the literature.
Rather than presenting new empirical findings, the study offers a structured synthesis of
existing knowledge, providing clarity on the field’s conceptual directions and revealing
underexplored areas. Ultimately, this work contributes both methodologically and
substantively, proposing a roadmap for future research on how logistics outsourcing strategies
are designed, evaluated, and transformed in response to the dynamics of global automotive
supply chains.