All News articles – Page 359
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FeatureVW keeps FRID tabs on delivery in Germany
Volkswagen has introduced a new RFID system at its Wolfsburg plant in Germany with support from IBM to improve the efficiency and visibility of its inbound parts handling. Heralded by the company as “the biggest motor vehicle factory in the world under one roof”, the Wolfsburg facility has a daily ...
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FeatureFicosa chooses Chep for parts protection
Ficosa Otomotiv San, the Turkish division of the Spanish automotive parts maker Ficosa Group, will use CHEP’s folding large containers (FLCs) at its plant in Bursa for transport of wire harnesses to a number of its plants in Eastern Europe.According to Dan Walsh, Sales Director at CHEP, the pallet and ...
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FeatureBetter logistics could help Nissan go Mexico
Nissan has been renegotiating logistics contracts and reengineering transport networks at its Mexican operations to make its cost more competitive, raising the chances that it could shift more production of cars and parts there, according to Gerardo de la Torre, Supply Chain Management and Logistics Director for Nissan Mexicana. “Right ...
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FeatureOverheard in Montreux: 'What we actually need is action'
Delegates at the Automotive Logistics Europe conference held last week in Montreux talked about the need for leadership, sober prognosis and a greater transparency in the relationship between OEMs and logistic service providers. Only then can the industry move on from the current crisis and deal with the challenges ahead: ...
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FeatureEuropean truckmakers reach for new markets
Commercial vehicle sales in Europe have fallen significantly in 2009, with the registrations of new vehicles contracting by more than 35% in January to 145,000 units, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association. The sales drop has led truckmakers to export and assemble vehicles outside their traditional markets, although the ...
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ECG president Mehrtens takes on new role
After 20 years with the Netherlands-based Broekman Group, Frits Mehrtens has resigned as General Manager of Broekman Automotive, to become Business Development Director for Greencat, effective March 1st. Mehrtens, who has been president of the European Association of Vehicle Logistics (ECG) since May 2007, will step down from that post ...
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IT still in demand despite recession
The demand for visibility and IT services in the supply chain is proving resilient despite the huge drop in vehicle sales and production, IT suppliers have told Automotive Logistics. Several companies have just announced investments or updates to their IT systems, while an IBM survey of supply chain executives published ...
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Tata Nano could be saving grace for supply chain
Following months of delay, Tata Motors has announced that the Nano, the world’s cheapest car, will officially launch on March 23rd, and should reach dealers by the first week of April, according to the company. Sales in the short term could defy the sour economy and be enough to help ...
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Carriers get creative in tough times
With new car sales at their lowest point in decades in the US, finished vehicle logistics providers are looking outside their traditional business segments. Car transporter United Road, has grown in the used-vehicle market, in moving repossessions as well as “green” vehicles. Ro-ro carrier Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics (WWL) is moving ...
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March is make or break for LSPs
The automotive supply chain in both Europe and North America will be at high risk during the coming months as part suppliers and logistics providers come under financial stress, analysts predict. Following the high number of plant closures and production cuts since December, a result of a global collapse in ...
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FeatureGefco receives new UK trailer fleet
Lohr has provided Gefco with a fleet of ten car carrier trailers from its factory in Strasbourg, France that will enable more efficient vehicle transport from the company’s regional distribution centre in Corby, in the English Midlands. The Eurolohr 3.53 UK Hybrid trailers, which allow mixed loads for up to ...
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FeatureChina offers economic help to logistics industry
Several sources have indicated that the Chinese government will extend support to industries hit by the economic downturn to help ports, warehouse operators and shipping firms. A report in Reuters said that China will add logistics to its industry support plan, citing sources close to the matter. The government had ...
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FeatureRival car carriers increase scrappage
NYK may double the number of car carriers it had planned to scrap by 2010 in the face of production cuts at Toyota, Honda and Nissan. The number could reach 40, instead of the already planned 20, according to comments made last week by Mikitoshi Kai, head of investor relations ...
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FeatureAutomotive supply chain executives to meet in Montreux
Executives from carmakers, tier suppliers and logistics service providers from across Europe will gather in Montreux, Switzerland next week to discuss the impact of the economic slowdown for the automotive logistics industry in Europe. Speakers will cover topics such as analyses of what today’s tough economic pressures mean for the ...
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FeatureAsian carmakers target Mexico
The Mexican car industry, where sales and production have been hit hard by the economic downturn, received a small boost in the past week: Nissan announced it would be shifting some of its small-car production from Japan to its plants in Mexico. Meanwhile, Changan Auto has said it will build ...
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FeatureMahindra aims to enter US by ro-ro
Mahindra & Mahindra, which will enter the US market at the end of this year with the first Indian-built vehicles to be sold there, has told Automotive Logistics that it is likely to ship its vehicles by ro-ro. “We have not yet finalised whether it will be container or ro-ro, ...
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FeatureIAC reveals opportunities for logistics providers
The sessions dedicated to logistics provision for the automotive industry at last week’s International Automotive Conference in Durham, UK, drew comment from some of sector’s leading figures and what they said revealed that upheaval was an opportunity to look closely at traditional practice and bring long-term change: “There are many ...
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FeatureKey executives on the move
Ceva Logistics has appointed Pierre Girardin (pictured) as Managing Director for the Ceva Business Unit France, Benelux & Nordics. He will manage the region across all Ceva businesses and takes over from Onno Meij, who has led the unit for more than six years. Meij has been appointed Group Director, ...
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FeatureRussian taxes devastate imports through Vladivostok
Finished vehicle imports through the Commercial Port of Vladivostok have dropped 85% since the introduction of the new tariffs, mainly affecting second-hand vehicles brought in from Japan. The new charges, which came in to effect on January 12 this year, have brought unprecedented disruption in Vladivostok and have sparked protests ...
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FeatureDHL tests OEMs on collaboration
DHL Exel Supply Chain is integrating the various parts of its UK and EU collection services into one inbound freight network, which the company says will test OEMs' commitment to collaboration. Talking at last week’s International Automotive Conference, held in Durham in the UK, DHL’s Managing Director for Automotive in ...