Global news in brief

Kia Motors has suspended exports to Iran, including finished vehicles and parts, partly as a response to South Korea’s nuclear-related sanctions according to the company. The Korean carmaker makes significant exports of the hatchback Pride model, which is popular in Iran and accounts between 30-40% of all vehicles on Iran's roads, according to the company. Last year it is reported to have exported 4,210 complete vehicles to the country and 17,040 cars in kit form for local assembly.

The Associated Press reports that in a recent survey more than three-quarters of South Korea's small and mid-size exporters have partly or totally discontinued shipments to Iran following Seoul's sanctions.

 

The survey of 88 smaller exporters conducted by the Small and Medium Business Administration showed 28% had halted exports. Another 48% said they had partially suspended shipments.

 

The cut-off was due to fears they would be unable to receive payments for shipments said the report.

French logistics provider Gefco has become a member of the UN’s Global Compact voluntary initiative, which seeks to enhance corporate social responsibility on a global scale.

Set up in 2000, the Global Compact encourages organisations to adhere to ten principles relating to human rights, labour standards, the environment and the fight against corruption, by urging businesses to encompass these values into their core strategy and commercial activities.

 

Gefco said its decision to join the Global Compact reflects the company’s longstanding commitment to sustainable development and ambitions for a more open and ethical global marketplace.

 

Magna International subsidiary Magna Exterior & Interior has leased additional space at Gazeley’s Karlsruhe-Kandel logistics park in Germany for assembly and distribution of Daimler truck parts from the company’s assembly plant in nearby Wörth, the world’s largest truck assembly plant.

 

Magna will move into the new 10,800m² facility at the beginning of October.

 

The building will be fitted out with specific elements for Magna including curtain-side loading doors to meet the logistics requirements of the truck components handling.

 

Magna plans to operate the facility with a staff of 70 people in two shifts. Covering a total area of 46,000m2, the Karlsruhe-Kandel facility is one of Gazeley’s biggest in Germany and is located in a coveted region in the industrial heartland of southwest Germany, close to major end-users from the automotive sector.

 

As Volkswagen’s Russian division switches to a full manufacturing cycle from complete knockdown kits at its Kaluga facility southwest of Moscow, one if its interior module suppliers, Visteon, has set up a manufacturing facility at the centre’s supplier park for the feed of injection-moulded door panels and other interior components for the new Volkswagen Polo. The Polo goes on sale in the Russian market from next year and Visteon plans to reach full production in the first quarter of 2011.

 

Visteon has also recently announced the formation of a joint venture, OOO Visteon Avtopribor Electronics, to supply cockpit electronics products to carmakers in the wider Russian market.

 

Elsewhere in Russia Spanish parts maker Grupo Antolin has announced plans to open a new parts production and warehouse facility at St Petersburg’s 10,000m2 Multinational Logistics Partnership complex at Utkina Zavod. The company has reported it is investing up to $7m in the project.

 

The Spanish company already supplies car interior headliners to the Ford’s plant in Vsevolozhsk near St Petersburg. It is also reported to have agreed to supply parts to other groups including Nissan, Toyota and General Motors.