OEMs
Ford to export Transit Custom diesel engines from UK to Turkey
Ford has announced its engine plant in Dagenham, UK will export diesel engines for the next generation of Ford Transit Custom vans built in Turkey.
Semiconductor shortage hits Volvo Truck manufacturing
Volvo Group has said the ongoing shortage of semiconductors to the automotive industry will cause it to halt production at its truck manufacturing operations in the second quarter of this year.
Nio suspends assembly in China because of chip shortage
Chinese electric vehicle (EV) start-up, Nio, has been forced to temporarily suspend operations at the plant it shares with state-owned carmaker JAC in Hefei because of a shortage of semiconductors. The line stoppage will last five days between March 29-April 2.
Mini gets more sustainable on inbound moves with Imperial
BMW is benefitting from more sustainable inbound logistics at its Mini plant in Oxford, UK thanks to the deployment by its transport provider, Imperial Logistics, of a new fleet of 18 trucks powered by liquified natural gas (LNG). The trucks are being used to transport parts, including engines, from suppliers on 15 routes across the UK into the Oxford plant.
A stronger supply chain since Fukushima
In the ten years since the earthquake and tsunami hit the Japanese region of Tohoku, carmakers disrupted by the disaster have been working on mitigation strategies to better prepare and respond to the next supply chain threat. Marcus Williams talks to Mazda, Nissan and Toyota about what has been achieved over the last decade
Mitsubishi to sell models in Europe made by Renault from 2023
As part of an agreement to build on joint purchasing and vehicle standardisation announced by the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi (RNM) Alliance last year, Mitsubishi Motors will begin selling two models procured from Groupe Renault in selected European markets in 2023.
Carmakers ramp up plans for North American BEV manufacturing
As Europe develops an appetite for battery electric vehicles (BEVs), with Volkswagen’s ID.3 even becoming the second-best selling car overall in December, North America continues to lag behind. Although it is unlikely to catch up to Europe any time soon, things are beginning to move when it comes to local manufacturing, with some major OEMs and some credible start-ups announcing big investments for new models.
Ford cuts its losses in Brazil with closure of all production in 2021
Ford will shut all three of its production facilities in Brazil this year and import vehicles from other markets in South America, including neighbouring Argentina and Uruguay, to meet demand in the country.
Second Covid wave will cripple vehicle sales and distribution
Carmakers are looking at a damaging month of sales as new lockdowns in Europe hit the dealer network. At the same time they are closely monitoring inbound supply chains ahead of a winter that could see continued disruption to automotive supply chains.
EV start-up Arrival to build microfactory in South Carolina
Arrival, the start-up that plans to build electric commercial vehicles in what it calls ‘microfactories’, has announced its first US production location in York County, South Carolina. It has also raised $118m from funds managed by BlackRock.
Xiaopeng Motors begins electric SUV exports to Europe
Chinese start-up carmaker Xiaopeng Motors (XPeng) has started exports of its G3i electric SUV to Europe, with the first models expected on the roads in November this year. The vehicle went on sale in the country in June. The vehicles were loaded at Xinsha Port in Guangzhou on September 24.
Tesla plans deep vertical integration of battery supply
Tesla has revealed a host of production innovations to make lithium-ion battery manufacturing more efficient and reduce costs, including in-house battery cell production, which could cut the miles travelled for the battery production by 80%, and the reduction of the cobalt content of the cathode, which would bring further supply chain savings
Ford and Toyota talk about the benefits of returning to sender
Carmakers used last week’s ALSC Live online conference to reveal a range of sustainable packaging strategies they were employing in an effort to cut waste along with cost.
Rivian outlines sustainable packaging initiative
Electric vehicle start-up Rivian has revealed details of a plastic recycling initiative that aims by 2024 to collect 500,000kg (1.1m lbs) of single-use plastic annually and stop it from floating out to sea. Rivian will instead turn it into the containers it uses to move parts inbound to its production line.
Fully automated microfactories mean more resilient manufacturing says Arrival
Electric commercial vehicle maker Arrival could have as many as 1,000 automated microfactories operating by 2026, with the first now under construction. Localised supply is a priority and the manufacturing and logistics will be supported by industry 4.0 technology
Daimler automates inbound communications at Wörth plant
Trucks carrying inbound parts to the Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicle plant in Wörth, Germany are now sending out automated arrival announcements thanks to a new IT system set up by parent company Daimler and software development partners Inform and Fleetboard Logistics.
Gefco secures contract with RNM Alliance in France and Netherlands
The Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance has signed a new three-year contract with French logistics provider Gefco for the multimodal movement of finished vehicles in France and the Netherlands
Kandi Technologies looks to make EVs in the US
Kandi Technologies is the latest Chinese carmaker interested in opening a manufacturing plant in the US for its electric and off-road vehicles. The company, which also develops lithium-ion batteries and parts, said it could improve competitive pricing by eliminating shipping costs and tariffs associated with imports to the region.
Consortium to develop autonomous inbound services for Nissan UK
Autonomous vehicle technology developer StreetDrone has secured funding as part of a wider consortium looking into the use 5G connected autonomous trucks for inbound shipments to Nissan’s assembly plant in Sunderland, UK
VW will stay with Amports at Jaxport
Volkswagen has extended its vehicle handling contract with the US east coast port of Jacksonville (Jaxport) for three years and will continue to work with terminal operator Amports…
