All Africa articles – Page 3
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ArticleGefco completes buyout of GLT
Gefco has finalised its purchase of Moroccan transport company GLT, after European regulatory approval was granted for the takeover.As announced at the beginning of the year, Gefco’s division in Spain will own and manage GLT. The move is designed to improve services between Europe and Morocco, including for the automotive ...
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ArticleLa Luz Autoport Terminal seeks concession at Las Palmas
Las Palmas Port Authority, in the Canary Islands, has confirmed it is processing a request from La Luz Autopost Terminal to operate a new concession on a 14,820 sq.m area at Cabulloneros Quay, involving a new multilevel storage facility in Functional Area 6, in the port’s service area. A new ...
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ArticleBAIC opens compact SUV plant in South Africa
Chinese vehicle-maker BAIC has officially opened its 11 billion rand ($834m) assembly plant in South Africa, which will start making the X25 compact SUV from imported semi-knockdown (SKD) kits in the fourth quarter of this year. BAIC has been exporting the vehicle to South Africa from China since 2017.The plant, ...
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ArticleMercedes-Benz boosts local sourcing in South Africa
Mercedes-Benz is enlarging its supply chain within South Africa as it expands production at its plant in East London, on the country’s east coast.The OEM has added 35 new suppliers based in South Africa to the plant’s supply chain, with seven being tier one suppliers and three sequencing suppliers.“We have ...
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ArticleAfrica awakes
Africa’s vehicle production and distribution sector still trails much of the rest of the world, but the signs are that this is beginning to change
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ArticleRussia's fresh focus on exports
In recent years, Russia has put considerable resources into encouraging recovery in its domestic automotive industry. Last year, the federal budget included 62.3 billion roubles ($1 billion) in state aid for carmakers. Such sums have been spent primarily on boosting demand in the domestic market, which has been under pressure ...
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ArticleMercedes-Benz to expand South African plant
German manufacturer Mercedes-Benz Cars is to spend €600m ($697m) on the assembly of the next generation of C-Class models at its plant in East London, South Africa.Factory space for passenger vehicle production will increase by two-thirds and include new logistic warehouses, paint and body shops and an upgrade of the ...
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ArticleMahindra trials Pik-Up assembly at Durban plant
Indian vehicle-maker Mahindra & Mahindra has begun trial production of its Pik-Up range at a new assembly plant near Durban, South Africa.The company’s initial annual production target at the plant, which is located at Dube Tradeport special economic zone, next to the King Shaka Airport, is 2,500 units. It hopes ...
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ArticleKerry Logistics acquires SAS
Third-party logistics provider Kerry Logistics has further extended its reach into the EMEA market with the acquisition of South African-based freight forwarder, Shipping and Airfreight Services (SAS).In a statement, Kerry highlighted the importance of South Africa as a manufacturing hub for the global automotive market.“South Africa’s economy has an important ...
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ArticleToyota and Suzuki look at India and export markets
Japanese OEMs Toyota and Suzuki are to consider extending their 15-month-old business partnership to work together on sales, production and technological development, with a focus on India and its export markets.Ideas to be further evaluated include using Toyota Kirloskar Motor Private (TKM) to produce models developed by Suzuki for sale ...
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ArticleGefco: Full of get up and go
French transport and logistics provider Gefco started 2018 with an announcement in Paris that it was looking to cooperate more closely with its partners and customers. At the same time, the company said it was looking for international growth and new business as it continued to move beyond the traditional ...
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ArticleTrusting the market will stay afloat
European vehicle-handling ports saw growth in vehicle vehicle volumes in 2017, however geo-political worries – not least Brexit – is causing concerns. Ports continue to invest but there are worries over future volumes and capacity levels.
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ArticlePSA Group reorganises supply chain roles
Etienne Jacob (pictured) has moved to become senior vice-president of supply chain at Opel/Vauxhall, based in Rüsselsheim, Germany. He moves from his role as vice-president of supply chain transport and packaging at PSA Group, which now owns the Opel and Vauxhall divisions following last years’ buyout by General Motors.Jacob has ...
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ArticleFord expands Struandale engine plant
Ford is adding an assembly line at its Struandale plant in South Africa to produce engines for the Ford Ranger Raptor. The mid-size pick-up will go into production next year at the carmaker’s Silverton assembly plant in Pretoria, as well as at its plant in Rayong, Thailand, both of which ...
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ArticleChep makes Gilder VP of automotive for EMEA
Pallet and container pool provider Chep has appointed Murray Gilder (pictured) as its new vice-president of automotive EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa). He replaces David Mayo, who moved last year to become vice-president of global accounts and intercontinental at the Chep Automotive and Industrial Solutions division.Gilder, whose new role ...
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ArticleGestamp plans joint venture plant in Morocco
Spanish automotive parts manufacturer Gestamp has signed a joint venture agreement with Moroccan components manufacturer Tuyauto to set up a factory in the north African country.The companies plan to build the plant in the Kenitra free trade zone, next to the car assembly factory PSA is building there. Other key ...
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ArticleWhat3words: Innovative addressing solution
‘Innovative addressing solution’ aptly summarises the product the founders of a start-up came up with over three years ago. It also happens to be the co-ordinates of an exact 3m x 3m location in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. The original concept that would become What3words was born when ...
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ArticleGefco buys GLT to strengthen service between Morocco and Europe
Gefco has bought Moroccan road haulage company GLT for an undisclosed sum in a move designed to strengthen its service between Europe and Morocco, including for the automotive industry. Gefco’s division in Spain will own and manage GLT.GLT has been operating as a specialist in logistics flows through the strait ...
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ArticleA stormy year of negotiations, electric plans and cyber-attacks
As the year draws to close, major uncertainty regarding both Nafta and Brexit remains, as well a lack of clarity on what any changes could mean for the global automotive sector and the logistics industry that supports it.During the past 12 months, OEMs have made major strides towards an electric ...
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ArticleOpel signs deal with Unitrans for distribution of cars in South Africa
Opel has signed a deal with Unitrans Automotive for the import and retail of its vehicles in South Africa from the beginning of January.The move follows Groupe PSA’s acquisition of Opel and Vauxhall for €2.2 billion ($2.6 billion) from GM earlier this year. Previously, Opel distribution in South Africa was ...