OEMs
Automotive industry looks for silver linings in China-US trade ‘truce’
On the face of it last week’s signing of a ‘phase one’ agreement between the US and China is more of a truce than a substantial trade deal, though that is no less welcome given the two years of escalating tariffs between the two countries, which has affected a range of industries, including automotive…
BMW selects tough tablets for logistics operations
German car manufacturer BMW has opted to buy a new batch of rugged mobile devices from Getac Technology of Taiwan, a supplier for six years…
DRS and STVA UK to support Ford finished vehicle shipments
Ford has awarded a contract to Direct Rail Services (DRS) for the transport of finished vehicles from its UK factory in Dagenham to DRS’ rail terminal at Garston, near Liverpool. Services are to begin mid-2020.
Toyota claims 100% use of renewable electricity in Europe
Toyota Motor Europe’s 14 parts distribution centres (PDCs) and seven vehicle logistics centres (VLCs) have been instrumental in ensuring all electricity the company used across the region last year came from renewable sources…
Senate vote on USMCA a step closer to trade certainty
In a step closer to a working United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), the US Senate has approved the trade deal with an 89-10 vote. The deal replaces the 25-year old North American Free Trade Agreement (Nafta)…
Explaining EU vehicle emissions targets: can OEMs avoid heavy fines?
The new average fleet targets that came into force in Europe on January 1st 2020 are having big impacts on the supply chain, pushing OEMs to produce and sell more hybrids and EVs. But the rules are complex and varied by brands, volume and sales. Here we provide a summary of the key rules and terminology.
BMW’s balance of power
BMW already has a 6% share of the market for new registered battery electric and photovoltaic electric vehicles but to meet the increase in demand in the coming years it has plans to have 1m fully electric and hybrid vehicles on the road by the end of 2021. In preparation it is moving battery production closer to its main areas of global assembly
Taking the assault out of the battery
The traceability of raw materials used in the production of lithium-ion batteries, such as lithium and cobalt, is one of the main sustainability challenges faced by carmakers who are investing to meet the consumer demand and regulatory pressures behind the electric vehicle revolution
Weighing the cost of the EV revolution
The rise in the number of electric vehicles being transported in Europe is bringing with it some significant challenges for those carriers tasked with volume shipments. They are having to deal with heavier and higher voltage vehicles that need charging on routes that cross countries with differing regulations on load dimensions
German domestic car market expands, but exports and output fall
Registrations for new passenger cars in Germany last year grew by 5% year-on-year to 3.607m vehicles…
Is Sony’s Vision S a scary sight, or a revelation for carmakers and suppliers?
Should automotive manufacturers and the supply chain fear or embrace this surprise announcement from the consumer technology giant?
Mena aftermarket: Playing a bigger part
Overall economic growth may be lacklustre, but automotive aftermarket sales are on the increase in the Middle East and North Africa…
Pairing up for progress: The advance of digital twins
A computer-based tool for process planning, quality checking, monitoring systems and a wide range of other uses, digital twinning is increasingly making its presence felt across the automotive industry. In essence, this is a version of something in real life, such as a piece of machinery, a production line or a supply chain operation, which is recreated on a desktop computer or a tablet. Digital twins are now used across manufacturing and warehouse operations to manage material flow, complete the order-to-delivery process and make efficiency and quality improvements in vehicle production.
Shifting gears: How Skoda automated Vrchlabí
The smallest of Skoda’s production plants, the Vrchlabí site in the Czech Republic has been producing direct shift transmissions for the Volkswagen Group since 2012..
Suppliers set CEE on firm foundations
In the decades since the end of the Cold War, Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) has been attracting automotive components suppliers by virtue of its cheap labour, low taxes and convenient geographical location. Now, the region is aiming to maintain or even build on its gains in the face of vehicle electrification, rising global competition and other challenges.
Daimler Buses to start 3D printing of spare parts
German OEM Daimler Buses enters the new year looking to develop a new business model: directly producing spare parts in-house for customers via 3D printing…
Russia to help fund localisation of parts production
The Russian government will allocate state support over the next five years to companies investing in the latest technology who agree to produce parts for more than one OEM, according to a new automotive industry development strategy
Toyota to pick up parts from suppliers in Tokai
Toyota Motor Corp is to start collecting parts from suppliers, instead of the usual practice of each component manufacturer delivering them, in the Tokai region of Japan from next September…
Carmakers ignore the critical source of EV battery materials
OEMs and companies in the automotive supply chain show a lack of comprehension of how serious the situation is in accessing key metals required for electric vehicle (EV) batteries, according to Scott Williamson, managing director of Australian mineral explorer and mine developer Blackstone Minerals…
Running short: US trucking sector battles driver deficit
Car transporters across the US are feeling the effects of a significant shortage of drivers across the finished vehicle logistics sector – and are searching for the best solutions to tackle the continuing difficulties it poses to operations…
