All North America articles – Page 104
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FeatureToyota blames logistics for NUMMI closure
Logistics is behind Toyota’s decision to close its New United Motor Manufacturing Inc. (NUMMI) plant in Fremont, California next March, according to the carmaker. Answering questions from disgruntled workers who called into a show on KGO radio station in San Francisco to complain about the closure, James Lentz, head of ...
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FeatureFirst US Kia plant goes to work with Glovis
Kia Motors’ first plant in the US – Kia Motor Manufacturing Georgia (KMMG) – has officially started production, with inbound and outbound logistics support from the US-based branch of its Hyundai-Kia subsidiary Glovis. Following roll out of the first vehicle in October, the $1 billion-plant went into full production of ...
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FeatureUS carmakers call for level playing field with Korea
As part of his first trip to Asia, which begins tomorrow, US President Barack Obama will visit South Korea to push for a wide-ranging free trade agreement (FTA) with the republic that has been sitting around since 2007. But US carmakers are calling for the removal of barriers to US ...
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FeatureGM keeps Opel but what now for LSPs?
GM’s announcement last night that, after months of wrangling over the reluctant sale of Opel/Vauxhall, it would instead keep it probably brings as many new questions for its supply chain and logistics service providers as it might answer others. While it’s clear that GM’s European operations will remain an integral ...
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FeatureChina could impose import tariffs on US vehicles
Chrysler, Ford and General Motors are meeting with the American Automotive Policy Council this week to discuss China’s trade investigation into US carmaker subsidies which is due to begin today and could result in tariffs being imposed on the companies’ vehicle imports. Following a petition from automotive companies in China, ...
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FeatureHonda imports to benefit from rail project
Following last week’s news that Honda is shifting 80% of its imports from San Diego to the Port of Richmond (read more here), the port has now broken ground on a $40m rail infrastructure development that will allow the carmaker to move more than 145,000 vehicles through the port per ...
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FeatureAvtotor launches Opel assembly in Kaliningrad
Russian carmaker Avtotor Holding has launched production of Opel cars at Kaliningrad with GM Europe supporting both inbound and outbound movements to and from the plant by rail. The company is beginning with assembly of semi-knockdown kits of the Astra and Zafira which are being brought by rail from GM ...
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FeatureAmerican Honda shifts imports to Richmond
American Honda Motor is shifting 80% of its current vehicle import operations from the Port of San Diego to a new facility in Richmond, California, making it the company’s third West Coast port facility in the US. The move, which will take place from Spring 2010, is designed to more ...
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FeatureOutbound could start to look like inbound
A shift to lower finished vehicle inventories could mean that outbound logistics in Europe will more closely resemble the low stock, highly time-critical operations of inbound logistics for production, according to the head of logistics for Opel/Vauxhall, Elliot Swiss. The change in strategy could lead OEMs to procure vehicle logistics ...
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FeatureEuropean vehicle logistics sector needs billions
European finished vehicle logistics providers are in need of up to €7 billion in financing if they are to meet the needs of a recovery in car sales and production, revealed Costantino Baldissara, president of the Association of European Vehicle Logistics (ECG) at the association’s annual conference in Rotterdam last ...
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FeatureLogistics is holding South Africa back
An inefficient supply chain, high logistics and port handling costs could cause carmakers in South Africa to lose future production volumes to global competitors in Asia, South America and even the EU, according to executives at last week’s South African Automotive Week in Port Elizabeth. Total costs for South Africa’s ...
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FeatureGM revises pay plan for suppliers
From 1 November this year GM will start paying its parts and logistics service providers every week rather than every 47 days in a move to improve the company’s cash flow and better support struggling suppliers. Many suppliers awaiting payment have been forced to rely on credit lines to cover ...
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FeatureCautious reaction to scrappage extension in UK
Monday’s announcement by the UK’s business secretary Lord Mandelson that the UK scrappage scheme would be extended for a further 100,000 vehicles has been cautiously welcomed by carmakers around the country who were keen to stress that any lift was very much part of a wider European set of initiatives. ...
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FeatureCarmakers don't want the inventory
The historically low finished vehicle inventory levels in North America are here to stay, according to several carmakers speaking on day one of the 10th Automotive Logistics Global conference in Detroit this week. Keynote speaker Joe Hinrichs, Ford’s group vice president, global manufacturing and labour affairs (pictured), admitting that the ...
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FeatureWhat does sustainable shipping really look like?
Automotive shipping companies have been flexing their PR muscles in preparation for this year’s World Maritime Day, the International Maritime Organisation’s annual global event, which concentrates attention on environmentally conscious and safer shipping practice. This year’s event, which takes place on Thursday this week, focuses on the reduction of greenhouse ...
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FeatureHonda Indiana exports Civics to wider markets
Honda’s Greensburg plant in Indiana has shipped its first units of the Civic sedan to Mexico as part of a wider export strategy that also includes markets in Latin America as well as the Caribbean and US territories in Puerto Rico, Guam and Saipan. The first 270 units will arrive ...
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FeatureContinental consolidates tyre distribution in Canada
Continental Tire Canada has picked a poignant moment to officially open its 400,000ft2 distribution warehouse in Oshawa, Ontario. While the row over North American tariffs on Chinese tyre imports continued to rage, last week John Gray, Mayor of Oshawa, Mario La Barbera, President of Pival International, Oliver Winschiers, General Manager ...
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FeatureCN expands vehicle compound in Toronto
Canada National Railway, the country’s largest rail freight provider, has opened a C$14m automotive compound at its at MacMillan yard north of Toronto to better serve key markets in Ontario. It will be operated by CN Worldwide’s Autoport subsidiary. According to the company, the Toronto Automotive Compound can now accommodate ...
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Nissan brings Styles to Mexico
Chris Styles, Nissan Americas’ Director of Purchasing for Logistics, Aftermarket/Accessory Parts, is taking on an additional role as Director of Purchasing at Nissan Mexicana. The new position will see Styles relocate to Nissan’s Mexican headquarters in Mexico City to oversee his additional responsibilities. Talking about his new role to Automotive ...
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FeatureBMW signs contracts with 2AM and AMPORTS
BMW North America has chosen Spartanburg-based logistics provider 2AM Group to take over the logistics and distribution of aftermarket service parts at its Jacksonville distribution centre in Florida. The previous contract was held by Schenker Logistics. "While Schenker has done a good job for BMW in Jacksonville, we are heading ...