All articles by Chris Ludwig – Page 22
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FeatureReady for the rush?
It’s time to ship directFinland will lose outToyota supports revised customs rulesMaking better use of spaceRail remains an expensive optionWill large-sale imports continue?Tran Siberian debate continuesChris Lewis takes another look at the finished vehicle imports going though ports into Russia, and discovers that business is seriously picking up, and that ...
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FeatureDaimler grows amid a divided Europe
A growing gap among logistics providersThe great capacity debate resumesA time of tender opportunityGrowth at seaGetting back to greenDaimler’s 11th annual European Carrier Day came at a time when the carmaker is accelerating globally in sales and logistics development, and often well ahead of its many vehicle logistics providers in ...
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FeatureFord of Europe’s brave new world
The sales climate might be decidedly mixed in Europe, but Ford is pushing through with big changes and improvements in its logistics networks, from substantially more intermodal transport to time-critical vehicle logistics. Christopher Ludwig catches up with Ford’s Matthias SchulzA marriage of sacred vowsIncreasing rail and short seaPassion projectsUnderstanding the ...
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FeatureGeely reaches out for help in a global future
Revising expectationsBackground and careerExporting cars and kitsBuilding better relationships at seaShipping contractsStreamlining managementGeely’s global exports and presence had been small outside China before the Volvo purchase, but it has plans to grow significantly in emerging markets around the world. Namrita Chow caught up with the woman in charge of international ...
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FeatureThe business case for container pooling
There is an old Chinese proverb which states “To be uncertain is to be uncomfortable, but to be certain is to be ridiculous”. And how uncomfortable times have been for many players in the automotive industry over the past few years with fluctuating production demands, increasingly global supply chains, and ...
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FeatureIn Profile: Yves Caracatzanis of Renault
While Yves Caracatzanis has had roles across the manufacturing process at Renault, logistics is at the bookends of his career to this point. He started with the carmaker in 1992 as project leader in logistics, before spending more than a decade in various manufacturing roles in plant, as well as ...
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Perfecting the Pallet
A committe of the Automotive Industry Action Group (AIAG) has created a standard for disposable and reusable packaging, which it hopes will be adopted internationally. The goal is for sizes to fit all modes, while aiming for the highest efficiency for sea containers.According to Paul Phelps, committee co-chair and a ...
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Consumers drive logistics
The gap between success and failure in the automotive logistics market is widening, with the difference often lying in serving emerging consumersAlthough the outlook for automotive logistics is mixed (awful in some markets) there are simultaneously a host of improving financials from some logistics providers. Meanwhile, global car sales and ...
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FeatureChinese supply grows up
Strikes and walk-outs by workers demanding better pay may be a bellweather for the future, but it is not denting the major suppliers’ commitment to investing in ChinaChoosing a service provider: local vs globalDealing with damageKeeping up with the codesCurrency valuation affects costsThere have been strikes and standoffs at plants ...
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FeatureAsean alliance boosts car industry
Namrita Chow discovers that the Asean states are investing in the car business to the benefit of local and international OEMs. However, the logistics support structure is still fragmented and outdated, and they are competing with the manufacturing expert - ChinaFavourable tariffsAsean versus China as production base?New vehicle port links ...
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FeatureCarefully cutting claims
Driving claims lower in EuropeOEMs trim damage in the USInsurers eye deeper integrationIndians avoid scrapAssociations add impetusClaims and insurance processing have made steady strides in recent years in developed and developing countries alike. Tight cooperation between OEMs, insurers and logistics providers is helping to further accelerate the claims process in ...
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FeatureHave the tides turned for car shipping?
A new market entrantTrade from Japan must pick upQuite a bit of cargo aroundThe one concern above all othersNo one is pretending there has been a return to pre-recession highs, but the car shipping market has come back to high speed and nearly full capacity. But with worries over a ...
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FeatureA misty outlook for container sea trade
Car component trade by sea container has recovered well since the recession, but box shortages and slow steaming have caused issues for some manufacturers’ supply chains. And with the outlook uncertain, capacity questions remain unansweredContainer shipping and the car businessHonda UK works direct with shippersSafmarine builds a closer relationship with ...
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FeatureChina’s growth hinges on its ports
Shanghai PortGerman craftsmanship is in demandHigh and heavy calls the shotsSea routes linking north and south ChinaThe future?China imports more cars from Europe and the US than it exports and the trend looks set to continue. Namrita Chow reveals that in spite of being restricted to five ports for bringing ...
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FeatureGetting closer all the time
Last year, the Renault-Nissan Alliance began rewriting its playbook for logistics with the creation of common management charged with speeding up the pace of integration for parts and vehicle logistics. A year and a half later, the progress is much higher than anticipated.In June 2009, when Carlos Ghosn, the CEO ...
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FeatureStanding atop the Welt of BMW’s vehicle distribution
Central controlA reserved approach to outsourcingKeeping a stable distribution flowEurope–an unexpected rise in subcontractingNorth America–get the capacity in thereChina–surprisingly collaborative providersLooking ahead–IT and carbon cuttingMathias Wellbrock is carefully driving BMW’s outbound logistics with tight, in-house control while building closer relationships with providers; all of which is becoming even more critical ...
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The US needs more car hauliers
The increasing worry over a double dip recession in the US may accentuate problems in the finished vehicle supply chain in North America; the lack of truck capacity, aging equipment and a shortage of skilled hauliers.Domestic OEMs such as Ford have been telling Finished Vehicle Logistics since May that they were ...
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Is Russia moving in the wrong direction?
Russia’s prime minister Vladimir Putin said in September that Russia would further raise import tariffs on foreign produced vehicles from the current 25% duty to stimulate Russian production. Exact figures and timings were not given but carmakers and logistics providers are bracing themselves. The news puts a damper on recent ...
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India’s new tax system delayed…again
For years India has planned to reform the way it administers taxation for domestic movement of goods across its state borders with a simplified, general sales tax (GST). And for just as long it has been delaying the implementation. So it came as little surprise that the latest deadline, April ...
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Waiting for the Leafs to turn
Nissan, which will soon bring its electric Leaf model to Japan, the US, China and parts of Europe, is anticipating delivery delays as production out of its Japanese plant struggles to fill orders before local production begins in other markets. Customers could expect delays for the first two years particularly ...