All articles by Chris Ludwig – Page 12
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FeatureDawn of a new era
With production set to start this year, JLR and Chery’s joint venture has learned vital lessons from its parent companies and is preparing to go out and navigate the supply chain on its own terms.It is an exciting time for the logistics team at Chery Jaguar Land Rover (CJLR), the ...
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FeatureThirsty for pressure
Gefco’s chief executive, Luc Nadal (pictured), has ambitious plans for global expansion under Russian Railways ownership. But as an avid seaman, he knows it won’t always be smooth sailing.Few logistics providers have seen as much change as the Gefco Group in just two years. The major trigger was PSA Peugeot ...
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FeatureAsian ambitions
Gefco was not first to the door in China or south-east Asia, but its regional management believes that it still has great potential to expand.Today, China and Asia barely make up 3% of Gefco’s global turnover, about par with operations in Italy and around ten times smaller than business in ...
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FeatureBMW and Mercedes part ways at Baltimore
Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) and BMW North America will end a cooperation agreement whereby Mercedes-Benz has processed BMW imports at its terminal at the port of Baltimore, Maryland. The operations will terminate at the end of May, from which point Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics (WWL) will take over processing activities for BMW. ...
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FeatureWhat’s keeping US outbound executives awake in the middle of the night?
A severe disruption to rail capacity this year has left thousands of vehicles stranded in North America, leading some carmakers to look more carefully at their road and short-sea shipping options. Executives discussed their long-term plans at this year’s conference in California.The prospect of modal shifts for finished vehicle distribution ...
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FeatureMercedes-Benz to move terminals in Los Angeles
Mercedes-Benz will see some big changes to its US port processing and accessory installation operations, as the carmaker is set to change locations in the Los Angeles area. Speaking at the 2014 FVL North America Conference in North America, Rory Anne Hepner, general manager of vehicle distribution and logistics at ...
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FeatureToyota move will unite supply chain management in Texas
Toyota’s decision to build a new headquarters in Texas for its North American corporate functions will bring together for the first time much of the region’s top management for inbound, outbound and spare parts logistics. Toyota’s chief executive and logistics managers expect that this proximity will allow for better collaboration ...
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Feature‘End of an era’ as Steve Harley retires from Ford
A renowned executive across the carmaker and the industry for more than four decades, Stephen Harley is moving on. He talks to Automotive Logistics about what has changed in logistics as well as his last project at Ford Europe. [This story was updated on 12 May 2014] Stephen Harley (left) ...
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FeatureChina’s new growth comes with old stories
Speakers at this year's conference in Beijing revealed that manufacturers and logistics providers are well on their way to further growth in China, but many are still struggling to shift towards higher-value services, as well as fix familiar problems. Additional reporting by Marcus WilliamsFull-length videos of the main sessions are ...
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FeatureChina may matter less as a low-cost country sourcing location
Rising labour, material and transport costs have all contributed to limit China’s role as a low-cost country sourcing location for automotive manufacturers, although the market’s growth has encouraged more local sourcing for vehicle production across the country, according to speakers at the Automotive Logistics China conference in Beijing. Costs in ...
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FeatureBig rail reforms could have little impact for automotive
China is planning major investments in its freight rail network, including expanding the track network, locomotive capacity and international links. Reforms to the bureaucracy that controls the railways are also expected to improve overall service levels, although the impact for the movement of automotive goods by rail may be limited. ...
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FeatureGefco to build up intra-Asia network for China auto trade
Logistics provider Gefco plans aggressive growth for its Chinese and Asian business, including investing in its own fleet for vehicle distribution in China. The company also expects to increase the amount of automotive freight, including finished vehicles and materials, it moves between China, Russia as well as Southeast Asia, where ...
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FeatureNissan makes logistics promotions in North America
Nissan has announced a number of executive changes for its Americas regions with effect April 1st, including several promotions for supply chain management and logistics. Mark Sharp, currently director of supply chain management at Nissan North America, has been promoted to a new position as senior director of Alliance New ...
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FeatureMagna’s European head of freight procurement to depart
Brendan Lenane will leave his position as head of procurement for freight and logistics services at Magna Logistics Europe (MLE) on April 30th. According to Magna International Europe, Lenane will leave to pursue interests outside of Magna. An announcement of his replacement is expected in the coming weeks. In an ...
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FeatureEditor's note: innovation to last 30 years
I often hear complaints about a lack of innovation in vehicle logistics. Carmakers accuse carriers of failing to update equipment and systems to fit the modern age. Logistics providers cry equally foul, citing rate squeezes that leave most unable to invest let alone innovate.I’ve never waded deep into this argument, ...
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FeatureEditor's note: a more knowable future
OEMs and LSPs must often react to the supply chain in real time. Extreme weather in the US, UK and Japan have all recently affected freight routes. The crisis between Russia and Ukraine, for example, blocked the port of Sevastopol, diverting cargo, along with posing much more serious threats to ...
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FeatureWith solid financials, Gefco looks to acquisition and growth
The Gefco Group has announced positive results for 2013, including higher revenue and net profits, although difficult automotive markets in Europe and costs weighed on its operating profit and margin. While Gefco is facing risks over the Russia-Ukraine crisis, the company has charted an aggressive growth plan, which is likely ...
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FeatureEight logistics providers among GM Supplier of the Year winners
General Motors has announced its 2013 Supplier of the Year award to 68 suppliers, including eight companies working specifically in logistics for the carmaker.Only 1% of GM’s 24,000 global suppliers are selected for the awards, which are chosen by a group of purchasing, engineering, quality, manufacturing and logistics executives. “Our ...
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FeatureParliamentary committee votes for harmonised loading lengths for car transporters across EU
The Transport and Tourism (TRAN) Committee of the European Parliament has voted in favour of harmonising the loaded length of vehicle transporters to 20.75 metres. The vote will still have to pass in a plenary session of the Parliament and a council of transport ministers before the proposal could become ...
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FeatureOverheard at Automotive Logistics Europe
A few interesting comments from the Automotive Logistics Europe conference in Bonn. "We are working together to find creative solutions to reduce environmental impacts. One of the most important things is to standardise. It’s important for LSPs that each OEM doesn’t have its own solution – there needs to be ...