All features articles – Page 13
-
FeatureBuilding Volkswagen’s Industrial Cloud
Volkswagen Group’s landmark project with Amazon Web Services will help to connect all its global factories, and eventually the supply chain as well. At the core of the project is a drive to establish a standard software stack that will transform the way production IT is developed and implemented across Volkswagen locations.
-
FeatureOh so simple? US start-up confident of delivering autonomous trucks
As the global logistics industry continues moving towards the introduction and use of autonomous vehicles, a growing number of companies are competing for a slice of this burgeoning market. One such firm is Californian start-up TuSimple, which is developing a range of innovative self-driving truck technologies.
-
NewsSlovakia stays strong in straightened times
The news announced earlier this year that Volkswagen (VW) was going to scrap 3,000 of the 15,000 jobs at its Slovakian plant came virtually out of the blue and sparked off speculation that the country’s authorities might have been so absorbed with labour reform during the ongoing election campaign that they have unintentionally made the domestic automotive sector less attractive for foreign investors.
-
FeatureSafe and secure: How new warehouses will support African supply chains
Operating in Africa can be a big challenge, and the establishment of a new supply chain there even more so. The acquisition or construction of decent storage facilities, the recruitment of suitable staff and the need to contend with local laws are all potential barriers to setting up business. However, Agility Africa, aims to change this by providing a series of well-managed logistics facilities across the continent.
-
FeatureCEE: At the heart of Europe’s electric future
OEMs and tier suppliers are investing in Central and Eastern Europe with a particular focus on electric, connected and autonomous mobility. Delegates at the Automotive Logistics CEE Summit in Budapest heard about the latest challenges and opportunities.
-
FeatureTangible progress: Morocco boosts automotive production and logistics
There is no doubt that shipping professionals are familiar with the Moroccan city of Tangier, as it is ranked 50th among container ports worldwide. The first container terminal opened in 2007 and has since been joined by three others; two at Tanger Med port 1 and two at Tanger Med port 2.
-
NewsHail, Caesar: How ECG’s template is giving power to distribution planning
Inadequate forecasting is one of the biggest causes of inefficiency in finished vehicle logistics, but ECG’s Project Caesar is setting new standards for distribution planning.
-
NewsHarmonising the supply chain
As supply chains grow more complex, automotive companies need a reliable way to keep track of parts movements and alert them to any delays. Andrew Williams investigates a ‘visibility platform’ from German start-up Synfioo
-
FeatureChallenges (and opportunities) for US automotive industry
As overall US vehicle sales slow down and EV sales remain stagnant, there are concerns that some OEMs are chasing new-generation technologies at the expense of their existing business – potentially setting up a ‘make or break’ scenario in the near future.
-
FeatureEasing off the gas: Is the shipping industry ready for Sulphur 2020?
The IMO’s new regulation to cut sulphur emissions, which is coming into force next year, will require operational changes by ports and shipping lines. But some parts of the world are far from prepared.
-
FeatureA rake’s progress in India: How one 3PL is growing rail services for finished vehicles
APLL Vascor started providing dedicated finished vehicle rail transport in India in 2014. On its fifth anniversary, the company talks to Automotive Logistics about the journey so far – and how the country’s regulatory climate is increasingly supportive of rail transport.
-
FeatureMena: Infrastructure, policy and regulatory developments
Much of the focus on China’s Belt and Road programme has been on trade routes between Europe and Asia, but Chinese organisations are also investing in African infrastructure.
-
FeatureShifting sands of time: The changing nature of Saudi Arabia’s automotive industry
Changes to social and economic conditions, including the recent removal of a ban on female drivers, could give a welcome boost to the automotive industry in Saudi Arabia.
-
FeatureCan Central Asia be transformed into an automotive hub?
Two of the largest former soviet republics, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, have set their sights on growing an automotive sector as they industrialise and modernise their economies. These Cental Asian nations are now focusing on strengthening their supply bases to boost local production.
-
FeatureFVL Import Export: Sizing up growth opportunities in a changing market
US ports and logistics providers are being challenged by a consumer shift towards bigger vehicles, while OEMs are operating under the shadow of global trade wars. Speakers at the 2019 FVL Import Export in Baltimore discussed the obstacles and the opportunities
-
FeatureRussia takes a slice of the new Silk Road
As vehicle shipments increase on overland routes between Europe and China, Russian companies such as state-owned RZD are aiming to capitalise on the new business
-
FeatureUsed but not confused: How battery diagnostics can help EV resales
Resales of EVs are currently complicated by lack of clarity on the health of their batteries. Austrian start-up Aviloo has developed a diagnostic tool that can be used at dealerships
-
NewsIndian automotive sector feels the heat
Slumping vehicle sales and production cuts are generating a sense of crisis for automotive part producers and their carmaker customers in India
-
InterviewDistribution Down Under: How AIVs are smartening up Toyota’s new parts centre
Japanese carmaker Toyota has now commissioned what it describes as “the most advanced automotive distribution centre in Australia” as part of its strategy of transitioning from manufacturing to purely logistical operations in the country. Intelligent robots and sophisticated design are helping the carmaker to achieve new levels of warehousing efficiency…
-
FeatureIran’s automotive industry left to rust
US-led sanctions have devastated Iran’s automotive industry, disrupting its supply of components and causing production to fall. Automotive Logistics assesses the damage