All articles by Marcus Williams – Page 43
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NewsVW cuts transport emissions by expanding Zwickau press shop
Volkswagen’s electric vehicle (EV) assembly plant in Zwickau, Germany, has taken another step into sustainable manufacturing by investing €74m ($95m) to expand its press shop.
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NewsBMW i Ventures invests in Plus One Robotics
BMW’s venture capital fund – BMW i Ventures – has invested an undisclosed sum in Plus One Robotics, which provides vision software for logistics robots. The investment is aimed at driving automation across the supply chain and logistics industry, said BMW i Ventures.
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NewsStronger partnerships will drive a more sustainable car sector
Overcoming the disruptions caused to the automotive industry over the last 12 months by the Covid pandemic has revealed the importance of long-term partnerships between OEMs, and their parts and logistics suppliers. What is more, at this year’s Automotive Logistics and Supply Chain Europe conference, carmakers talked about how important those long-term partnerships are going to be if the industry is to clean up its act and become more sustainable.
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FeatureBuilding a future for vehicle trade after Covid
Last year was one of unprecedented challenge for the UK’s vehicle handling ports but, as Marcus Williams reports, they maintained operations, invested in infrastructure and are taking lessons forward for future trade
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NewsDianna du Preez takes over as head of customer services at MBUSA
Dianna du Preez (pictured) moves to a new role at Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) as vice-president of customer services at the beginning of May, succeeding Christian Treiber who is leaving the company.
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NewsJens Wollesen to take COO role at Hellmann
Hellmann Worldwide Logistics will appoint Jens Wollesen (pictured) to the role of chief operating officer (COO) at the beginning of January next year. The move represents a reallocation of responsibilities at the management board level of the company.
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NewsWhy just-in-time will remain the way forward for Toyota
Leon van der Merwe is leading inbound, outbound and service parts logistics for Toyota Motor Europe. At this year’s Automotive Logistics and Supply Chain Europe Live conference he told Christopher Ludwig about the carmaker’s strategy to modernise just-in-time and make Toyota’s logistics more sustainable
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NewsGreater cross-sector dialogue needed to solve chip crisis
The current global shortage in the supply of computer chips to the automotive industry is causing significant disruption to production and looks likely to continue into next year. There are signs though that the current crisis could lead to new forms of partnership between the automotive and semiconductor industries, and a move away from the rigid hierarchy of the traditional automotive supply chain. That promises to lead to a more secure relationship for the future.
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NewsMastering complexity and getting sustainable at VW
Logistics at the Volkswagen Group is a complex business. There are currently 12 brands in the VW Group and every day 8,500 suppliers send parts into 70 assembly plants worldwide, from where finished vehicles are delivered to 150 markets. According to Matthias Braun, head of digitalization and concept development at VW Group Logistics, the company is looking at the latest technology to manage that complexity and do it sustainably.
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NewsEuropean carmakers need a circular approach to EV production
To meet ambitious goals to cut vehicle emissions in Europe, carmakers are focusing all their efforts on increasing the number of battery electric vehicles (EVs) they make and sell. There were more than 1m EVs and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) sold in Europe last year but by 2030 that number is expected to hit 5m in annual sales. That will put a big demand on lithium-ion battery production as carmakers seek to localise supply.
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NewsAutomotive needs a better skill strategy to successfully transform
Production and logistics technology is changing dramatically as the automotive industry adopts electrification and new forms of mobility, but the skills of the workforce need to keep pace because without them no transition is possible.
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NewsBrazil deliveries hit by Q1 decline but exports are a silver lining
Domestic Brazilian vehicle sales stood at 527,900 for the first quarter of this year, a decline of 5.4% on the same period in 2020 but down 23% on the previous quarter (Q4 2020), according to the National Association of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers (ANFAVEA).
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NewsVW begins exporting Taos from Mexico to US
Volkswagen has started exporting Taos models from its plant in Puebla, Mexico to the US. The vehicles are moving through the port of Lázaro Cárdenas to different northbound destinations.
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FeatureInside Volkswagen’s battery logistics
Volkswagen Group Components has developed a standardised, returnable container for the safe delivery of lithium battery cells and assembled modules in support of its ambitious electric vehicle goals leading up to 2030
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NewsNio delivers record quarterly volume and hits production milestone
Nio has announced record deliveries in the first quarter of this year and the production of its 100,000th vehicle.
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NewsBattery makers settle legal dispute over supply to US
LG Energy Solution and SK Innovation are settling their legal dispute relating to EV battery supply in the US and South Korea.
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NewsDHL Supply Chain report looks at automotive challenges ahead
Contract logistics provider DHL Supply Chain has published a report that shows how the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic will create and speed up certain trends in the automotive industry but arrest others.
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NewsBo Andersson steps down from lead roles at Yazaki
In a surprise development, Bo Andersson (pictured) has stepped down from his leadership roles at Yazaki in North America and Europe. As of the beginning of April, Ryosuke Yazaki has taken over the roles of president and CEO of North America, which Andersson previously held. Meanwhile, Hans Lemmens has been appointed president and CEO of Yazaki Europe.
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FeatureA game of two halves at Europe’s vehicle ports
Volatility at Europe’s leading finished vehicle handling ports was made worse in 2020 by the impact of restrictions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic in the first half of the year and then by resurgent demand in the second half. Marcus Williams reports
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NewsFord to export Transit Custom diesel engines from UK to Turkey
Ford has announced its engine plant in Dagenham, UK will export diesel engines for the next generation of Ford Transit Custom vans built in Turkey.