All articles by Gareth Tredway
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FeatureChanje charges to an electrifying lead
Commercial electric vehicle start-up Chanje has stolen a march on some of the more established players in the US, revealing the V8070 all-electric panel van, which can carry a payload of 6,000lbs (2.72 tonnes), several months before Tesla unveiled its much-anticipated electric truck.Chanje is led by Bryan Hansel, founder of ...
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FeatureWhat3words: Innovative addressing solution
‘Innovative addressing solution’ aptly summarises the product the founders of a start-up came up with over three years ago. It also happens to be the co-ordinates of an exact 3m x 3m location in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. The original concept that would become What3words was born when ...
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Feature2018 predictions: The hot spots
A year ago, previews of 2017 would have pointed to potential renegotiations of the North American Free Trade Agreement (Nafta) and Brexit as two of the most obvious threats to global free trade and the smooth-flowing automotive supply chains that have become so embedded across the wider regions of North ...
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FeatureA stormy year of negotiations, electric plans and cyber-attacks
As the year draws to close, major uncertainty regarding both Nafta and Brexit remains, as well a lack of clarity on what any changes could mean for the global automotive sector and the logistics industry that supports it.During the past 12 months, OEMs have made major strides towards an electric ...
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FeatureJack Cooper executive chair to run for Georgia lieutenant governor
Sarah Riggs Amico (pictured, left), executive chair at trucking and logistics group, Jack Cooper Holdings, has announced her decision to run for lieutenant governor of the state of Georgia, USA, as a democrat. The position, also referred to as vice-governor, involves being the deputy or lieutenant to or ranking under ...
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FeatureVW pushes its suppliers to raise supply chain sustainability
Volkswagen Group has said it is engaging in “intensive” discussions with its suppliers to determine how the sustainability of its supply chain can be improved, especially for the raw materials used in electric vehicles.“We are engaging in intensive dialogue with companies from the mine through to our direct suppliers. It ...
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FeatureFCA opens $10.4m Mopar parts centre in Detroit
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) has officially opened its new 46,450 sq.m parts distribution centre (PDC) in Detroit, Michigan, for its service parts and customer care brand, Mopar.The Romulus PDC, as it has been called, was built to address growth in sales and active part numbers by handling the fastest-moving parts ...
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FeatureFord to look at new retail opportunities in first phase of Alibaba deal
Ford Motor Company has signed a letter of intent with Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba to explore strategic collaborations in connectivity, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, mobility services and digital marketing.Under the three-year agreement, the two companies will explore new ways to define how consumers purchase and own vehicles, as well as ...
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FeatureUK-based Acumen acquires J&A Transporters
UK automotive logistics provider Acumen Automotive Logistics has acquired J&A Transporters, a Somerset-based business specialising in used vehicle movements for auction houses, direct contracts with dealerships for new cars and vehicle swaps, and fleet movements for rental operators.The deal, for an undisclosed sum, will add 15 car transporters and a ...
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FeatureKuehne + Nagel opens eighth logistics control centre in China
Logistics services provider Kuehne + Nagel (KN) has opened its eighth regional integrated logistics control centre (LCC) in Shanghai to serve the automotive, consumer, high-tech, industrial and healthcare industries.The new hub will provide a wide range of managed services for the fulfilment of customers’ orders across international supply chains.Tobias Jerschke, ...
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FeatureSouth America summit: Brazil faces ‘lost decade’ amid slow recovery
Despite a 25% increase in production this year, the Brazilian automotive industry is forecast to grow only slowly in coming years, delegates at this week’s Automotive Logistics South America summit were warned.After four years of declining demand, including a dramatic drop in vehicle sales and production in 2016, the Brazilian ...
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FeatureTesla electric truck cost takes market by surprise
Tesla has revealed that the longer range version of its new electric Semi truck will cost just 50% more than a regular long-distance tractive unit – much less than many market commentators had been expecting.According to Tesla’s website, the base price for the Semi with a 500 mile (800km) range ...
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FeatureMajor companies announce orders following Tesla electric truck launch
Companies including retailers Wal-Mart and Loblaw, transport services group JB Hunt and Europe’s Girteka Logistics have all announced orders for the new, all-electric Tesla truck.Tesla founder Elon Musk unveiled the Semi Truck – a Class 8 truck he has nicknamed 'The Beast', which is claimed to have a range of ...
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FeatureVolkswagen earmarks €22.8 billion for modular and electric vehicle future
Volkswagen has announced a major €22.8 billion ($26.7 billion) investment programme in its plants around the world to prepare them for modular production and for an electric vehicle offensive in the coming years.The main focus will be on Germany, which will account for investments totalling €14 billion. A big part ...
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FeatureSkiaker steps down as CEO of Höegh Autoliners following US fines
Ingar Skiaker (pictured) has decided to step down after six years as CEO of Höegh Autoliners, following the company’s recent settlement with US authorities in a price-fixing investigation.Ivar Myklebust, chief financial officer since 2014, will take on the CEO role from December 1st, while Skiaker, a 30-year company veteran, will ...
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FeatureVolvo to supply Uber with self-driving-compatible cars from 2019
Volvo Cars and Uber have announced a framework agreement under which the ride-hailing company will receive a fleet of self-driving-compatible vehicles from the Sweden-based car company, starting in 2019.In August last year, the two companies announced a joint project to develop new base vehicles that would be able to incorporate ...
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FeatureRenault signs agreement with Al-Futtaim to assemble cars in Pakistan
France-based carmaker Renault Group has announced the signing of an agreement with Al-Futtaim for the assembly and distribution of cars in Pakistan.“Groupe Renault is delighted to extend its international footprint by entering Pakistan, a fast-growing market with a 10% annual growth rate,” said Fabrice Cambolive (pictured, left), Renault’s chairman of ...
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FeaturePSA Group signs agreement to create manufacturing facilities in Algeria
PSA Group has signed an agreement in Algeria for a production joint venture in which it will invest €100m ($118m) and take a 49% interest.The agreement was signed as part of the France-Algeria joint economic committee (COMEFA), in the presence of Youcef Yousfi, Algerian minister of industry and mining, and ...
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FeatureVW to invest €560m in Argentina plant to serve South American markets
Volkswagen has announced plans to invest €560m ($660m) in its Pacheco plant in Argentina over the next five years, as it prepares it for 2020 production of a new SUV targeting the South American market.The new vehicle project will create 2,500 jobs at the plant, which was first opened in ...
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FeatureAPL Logistics Vascor expands rake capacity to encourage take-up of rail
APL Logistics Vascor Automotive, the automotive logistics joint venture, will add more finished vehicle carrying rail rakes to its operating fleet next year, bringing the total in use to 15 from just 3 at the start.The move was revealed by Vascor CEO, Bill Garrett (pictured, sitting right), speaking at the ...