All North America articles – Page 28
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FeatureTesla’s Model 3 puts customers and the supply chain to the test
The Tesla Model 3 is finally on order, almost two years after the vehicle was first announced. The mass-market, lower-priced electric car has seen unprecedented demand, reaching 276,000 pre-orders in the first 72 hours.Customers had to put down a $1,000 (refundable) deposit for the new Model 3. Given that 276,000 ...
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FeatureWWL invests in expansion at Brunswick port
Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics (WWL) is adding 8 hectares of newly developed land to its vehicle services operations (WWL Atlantic Vehicle Processors) at the US port of Brunswick. Once completed, the company’s footprint at the port will cover 36.5 hectares on the Colonel’s Island ro-ro terminal.A spokesperson for WWL said the ...
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FeatureBAIC sends trial consignment via port of Lázaro Cárdenas
Chinese carmaker BAIC has made use of the Mexican port of Lázaro Cárdenas for the first time to import its D20 model cars into the country. A modest 163 units were dispatched from Beijing to dealers in Mexico city via the port in a successful trial last month.The operation took ...
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FeatureCanada’s Metro Supply Chain buys emergency freight provider Evolution Time Critical
Canadian third party logistics provider Metro Supply Chain Group has acquired 100% of Evolution Time Critical, a UK-based emergency logistics company, for an undisclosed sum. The purchase is set to expand Metro’s presence in Europe, its premium freight services and its business in the automotive supply chain, which is Evolution ...
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FeatureConsolidation in logistics: Big fish eat the little fish...
The big players in automotive logistics are getting bigger after a record year for mergers and acquisitions, with middle players at particular risk of being subsumed. So will this trend continue?There has been a growing trend for consolidation in the third party logistics sector over the past few years, including ...
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FeatureUnpacking conventional wisdom
Whether one-way or returnable, owned by OEMs and tier suppliers or rented from specialist providers, current packaging models are being re-evaluated in the search for efficiency and cost-savings. Within the North American manufacturing operations of global automotive supplier Magna International, a fascinating pilot project is underway. After a year-long study ...
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FeatureMahle Behr: Experiencing a Thermal change
Mahle Behr’s takeover of Delphi Thermal Systems in 2015 sparked a process of systems integration, freight consolidation and supply chain redesign that is set to last a further three years.Last year was a record one for global acquisition and mergers within the automotive supply chain. Consulting firm PwC estimated the ...
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FeatureMercedes-Benz pushes ahead in Brazil despite downturn
Mercedes-Benz has started production at a new 600m reais ($165m) plant at Iracemápolis in Brazil, about 170km north west of the capital São Paulo. The plant, which was officially opened last week, is making the C-Class Saloon and, from this summer, the GLA compact SUV.The new plant follows the carmaker's ...
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FeatureVolkswagen India boosts output at Pune plant to meet rising demand
[Updated April 1st] Rising demand from export markets and anticipated domestic appetite for the forthcoming Ameo model are behind Volkswagen India’s plans to add a third shift to its plant in Chakan, near Pune (pictured). The move will produce 800 new jobs there.“In 2016, we are expecting growth in our ...
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FeatureRussian carmakers decry Kazakhstan’s customs policy
Russian carmakers say they have been dramatically hit by the utilisation and registration fee on vehicle imports introduced by neighbouring Kazakhstan at the beginning of this year. Alexander Morozov, Russia's deputy minister of industry and tradeThe registration fee for new cars varies between $300-400 per unit, while the utilisation fee, ...
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FeatureQuotas damaging finished vehicle market in Ecuador
Gloria Navas, president of the AEADE, says that Ecuador's vehicle import quotas for the first quarter have been met a month earlyBoth the Ecuadorian Association of Motor Companies (AEADE) and the Ecuadorian Automotive Association (AEA) have written to Ecuador’s overseas commerce minister to request the country’s quota for imported ...
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FeatureSteve Dean takes on contract logistics role at Ceva
Ceva Logistics has appointed Steve Dean (pictured) as its senior vice-president of business development for contract logistics in North America.Dean, who brings more than 30 years of logistics experience to the role including 25 in the contract logistics field at firms including Menlo Worldwide, Ryder Systems and Con-way, will be ...
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FeatureGrupo Antolin goes underground for OEMs in Kansas City
Spanish tier one parts supplier Grupo Antolin has leased over 3,000 sq.m of underground storage in Kansas City to improve the inbound supply of parts in the region to customers including Ford and GM.The company supplies headliners for Ford’s F-150 model and Transit vans, made at the Claycomo plant in ...
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FeatureEuropean ports survey: Rising volume and risky conditions
Our 2015 survey finds that, with imports in particular on the rise, some ports have experienced capacity issues despite investments in connectivity, capacity and information technology. Meanwhile, others are suffering as a result of geopolitical and broader economic instability. Contribution by Christopher LudwigAcross the European continent last year, from Scandinavia ...
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FeatureUK-EU: Better connected
In the puzzle of EU membership, Britain and its supply chain would both lose out heavily by leaving the gameBritain’s referendum on EU membership this June has divided the country. Opinion polls suggest a close contest, with splits across the population straight up to the governing Conservative party.At first glance, ...
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FeatureNorth American rail: One door closes, another opens
North American railways have seen big falls in revenue as a result of drops in energy commodities, but the rise in automotive presents an opportunity to capture more business and better serve customersOver the past year there has been a major shift in certain commodity shipment volumes across North American ...
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FeatureFord part 4: The future of service
From engaging customers through FordPass to predicting their maintenance needs via Service Excellence 2.0, Ford is evolving its approach to the aftermarket
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FeatureFord part 3: Supply chain upgrades
Ford is rolling out advanced global inventory and demand management tools in pursuit of greater efficiency in logistics and service
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Ford part 2: Global strategies
Ford intends to support dealers through its Professional Service Network, a proliferation of Quick Lane stores and extended parts retention.
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FeatureFord part 1: Always looking ahead
In the first of a four-part feature, Christopher Ludwig talks to Ford Customer Service Division president Frederiek Toney (pictured) about changing times for logistics and providing global customer service