Global news in brief

Zhejiang Geely Holding Group has become the second Chinese carmaker to export vehicles to Australia with an inaugural shipment of 100 MK GL compact sedan vehicles to a dealer in Perth.

 

The vehicles are being brought in by Chinese Automotive Distributors and will only be sold in Western Australia. Two variants of the MK are expected to go on offer: an entry level GL and a higher range GT version. Both models will feature the same 1.5 litre engine.

 

Geely is expected to ship the Panda LC to the east of the continent following its anticipated debut at Melbourne's Australian International Motor Show in July.

 

Great Wall Motor, Geely’s rival in China, began shipping vehicles to Australia in 2009 and the Hover SUV is reported to be doing well in the market.

 

 

Pound Gates Vehicle Management Services, the European risk management, claims and damage reduction company, has changed its name to Sevatas as of Monday this week.

 

According to the company, the name Sevatas, which derives from the Latin words sentio (to judge) and veritas (truth), reflects the core values and aspirations of the business.

 

“We work on behalf of European-based clients, all over the world, providing risk management, claims and damage reduction solutions in some of the most difficult operating environments there are for finished vehicle transport. Our new name better reflects this global scope,” said Sevatas director Neal Gordon.

 

The ownership structure and services offered by the company remain the same.

 

The company’s new website can be found at www.sevatas.com.

 

 

DHL Supply Chain’s subsidiary in Indonesia is building a $4m multi-user warehouse in East Jakarta for automotive and technology customers.

 

PT DHL Exel Supply Chain Indonesia is constructing the facility, which is said to be one of the largest of its type in Indonesia at 10,000m2, in Cililitan.

 

It will join 17 other facilities the company operates in the country supported by strong economic growth in the region and DHL said it is planning to expand business networks in Indonesia further over the next two years with warehouses in nine other locations equallying a total investment of between $27m and $41m.

 

Indonesia's domestic car sales reached 73,761 units in January, a 40% increase on the same period last year, according to data from the Indonesian Automotive Association (Gaikindo).

 

Sales were led by Toyota, Daihatsu, Mitsubishi, Suzuki and Honda,

 

 

Evidence that Russian automotive logistics is on the rebound is to be found in the recent resurgence seen by finished vehicle carrier, Major Auto Trans, which has responded with a significant investment in the renewal and extension of its car carrier fleet. The company has increased the number of vehicles at its disposal to 224 with the purchase of 115 more carriers, 95 of which came from Iveco, and 20 from Mercedes.

 

The company has also subleased 50 car carriers to an unnamed car transport partner, which was faced with a shortage as demand from the dealerships increased again suddenly.

 

“Seeing that lessors often propose rather strict deal conditions, especially to smaller and younger companies, many opportunities for extending their fleets are limited,” said the company in a statement. “However, rapid growth in the transportation demand on the Russian car market and, as a consequence, a shortage of car carriers leaves no doubt [about the limits].”

 

The company said that collaboration such as this was the essential for achieving shared goals.

 

US-based 3PL, Kontane Logistics, has signed a contract with MTU Detroit Diesel to support packaging, export and distribution services for the powertrain maker’s Graniteville manufacturing plant in South Carolina.

Kontane receive MTU's Series 2000 and Series 4000 diesel engines from Graniteville at its logistics facility at the port of Charleston and provide export packaging services including placement in strengthened, weatherproofed crates that safely house the diesel engines for up to five years.

 

After packaging and final inspection, the diesel engines are exported or stored, by serial number, until distribution.