All articles by Tony Danby
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FeatureMotoring on: Brazil’s heavyweight OEMs prepare for growth
Brazilian truck and bus sales picked up strongly last year following the country’s long recession, and now both OEMs and logistics providers are hoping the trend continues
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FeatureA problem shared
Packaging experts working across the automotive industry are continually looking for better visibility when tracking the container and its contents to the point of delivery and back
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FeatureQ&A: Neuton Karassawa
Can you give an overview of GM’s logistics activities in Brazil, and your own responsibilities?The scope of my function in the region is to handle the inbound pieces and materials, such as local inbound flows from overseas to South America. I [also] manage outbound flows from the factories to customers ...
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FeatureShifting gear
Brazilian vehicle sales have been gathering pace recently, as the country tentatively recovers from its long recession. Light vehicle sales have shown some growth, while bus and truck sales have positively motored ahead. Vehicle sales this year, however, have been tarnished somewhat by stalling exports – especially to Argentina, which ...
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FeatureMexico hopes for a smoother road ahead
After much uncertainty around trade talks between Mexico and the US and the former’s presidential election, Mexico’s economic and political conditions now seem clearer, leaving OEMs and LSPs in the country more optimistic about the future.Mexico, which is the world’s fourth biggest vehicle exporter, has enjoyed strong levels of exports ...
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FeatureReaping the benefits of collaborating on containers
When an OEM orders parts from its tier suppliers, it can find itself with limited visibility over just where containers of parts are within the supply chain and how soon they will arrive. Tracing containers can be a complex business – and if a problem does occur, the vehicle-maker needs ...
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FeatureWaking up to a new dawn
Brazilian vehicle manufacturers are increasingly optimistic that the country can claw its way out of a deep recession. The country is experiencing a period of low inflation, low interest rates, light GDP growth and a tentative recovery in employment, reflected in improving purchasing power and consumer confidence. Moreover, consumers with ...
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FeatureBrazil: Exports are chasing away the clouds
Brazilian vehicle sales, which have fallen every year since 2013, continue to be hampered by a deep recession, a stubborn, double-digit unemployment rate, increasingly tight credit and haemorrhaging consumer confidence. Seemingly unending political crises have also hit the country. So, to combat the stalling economy and venal political climate, carmakers, ...
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FeatureLatin America: The good, the bad & the uncertainty
Governments, carmakers, processors and carriers will all have their roles to play in establishing greater economic and logistical integration across Latin America, as Automotive Logistics finds out. In this story... Trade deal ups and downs Mexico sets gold standard Exports save Brazil Recovery in Argentina Return to peace in Colombia ...
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FeatureBrazil: Life in the narrow margins
[sta_anchor id="1"]OEMs and their LSPs are grappling with collapsing sales in Brazil even as new plants come online. As a result, they are looking for new ways to slash costs and boost exportsBrazil’s economy is facing crippling political and economic challenges, with the general outlook poor and vehicle sales crumbling. ...
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FeatureMaintaining traction through efficiency in Brazil
Vehicle sales in Brazil have tumbled and industry players need to slash costs, even as carmakers continue to invest heavily. OEMs and LSPs are redrawing their supply chains, while staying optimisticAfter the boom, Brazil’s economy is stuttering. Real GDP growth is expected to drop 1% for 2015 and inflation is ...
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FeatureBrazil: FCA goes the distance
Fiat Chrysler has increased investment in Brazil, opening a plant in the north-east even as the market declines. Industrial director Mauro Pino talks about logistics strategies for managing both near and long distance supply chainsFiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), which has a market share of around 20% in Latin America, has ...
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FeatureThe cross-border crawl
With the number of vehicles and parts moving between the US and Mexico set to increase even further, there are efforts to speed up the import and export processes. Are they enough?Freight flows between the US and Mexico have been steadily increasing, helped by strengthening economies on both sides of ...
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FeatureBrazil is slowing down to take stock
The Brazilian automotive sector has seen stalling production and sales following a stagnant economy and the end of tax breaks. Logistics companies are trying to combat the slowdown and find growthFollowing several years of boom time over much of the past decade, Brazil’s automotive supply chain players are now learning ...
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FeatureMaersk sees auto parts trade rise in Brazil
The world´s largest container carrier Maersk Line saw 38% growth in automotive imports coming into Brazil during the fourth quarter of 2013 versus the same period a year ago thanks to a mix of auto parts and complete knockdown kits (CKDs). Maersk saw more volumes coming from China, including parts ...
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FeatureGiving investors safe harbour in Brazil
Brazil has passed legislation to loosen terminal concession rules and encourage more private investment. However, it looks unlikely to be plain sailing aheadBrazil is widely viewed as having insufficient port capacity, with bottlenecks often constraining imports and exports. The country’s major port of Santos, in São Paulo state, faces heavy ...
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FeatureLow tide for vehicles in South American ports
Brazilian and Argentine ports are seeing some choppy waters but the finished car market continues to provide significant volumes. After years of neglect, there are signs that public and private investment are gathering apace.Brazil, which for a decade has been on the mighty march of the BRIC economies, has recently ...
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FeatureBrazil's search for savings and investment
As Brazil grapples with an uncertain economy and government-supported vehicle sales, logistics providers and automotive manufacturers are facing cost and infrastructure pressures that must be overcomeBrazil’s automotive market has remained relatively buoyant despite the snag in its economy. However, as costs rise faster than growth in many parts of the ...
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FeatureCar ports come back to life in South America
Port risk Ports push for businessNorthern LightsFord’s private port Brazil’s deep southArgentina’s ZàrateDelta DockEighthThe strength of the Brazilian car market has kept imports rising through Brazil and exports out of Argentina. But with investment in capacity needed, Tony Danby reports on future risks and development.Brazilian and Argentine ports reported lower ...
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FeatureUpgrading Brazil to World Class
Fiat's volume and growth in Latin America;Logistics operations;The Pernambuco plant;Outbound Logistics.Alfredo Leggero, manufacturing director of Fiat-Chrysler Latin America, gives an insider’s view of Fiat’s complex Latin American logistics operationsAlfredo Leggero is responsible for the manufacturing, supply chain and logistics operations for Fiat in Latin America, which this year could surpass ...