All Feature articles – Page 131
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Feature
Vietnam retains controversial import policy
Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade has decided to keep in place a controversial policy allowing only the authorised dealers of foreign carmakers to import vehicles. The policy, which first became mandatory in June 2011 and was due to expire this month, applies to all vehicles with fewer than nine ...
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FeatureEkol signs €12m order with Mercedes-Benz Trucks
Till Oberwörder, head of marketing, sales and services, Mercedes-Benz Trucks (left), hands over 150 trucks to Ahmet Musul, chairman of Ekol LogisticsTurkish transport and logistics provider Ekol Logistics has increased its European truck fleet with the purchase of 150 trucks from Mercedes-Benz. The Actros Lowliner models have been bought ...
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FeatureBMW: Flexing up for the fourth revolution
BMW’s partnership with Fraunhofer has produced innovations in materials handling to support its global parts exports, but these are only a first step towards wider digitalisation and automation in logisticsThere’s nothing wrong with asking for a little help every now and then, especially when it comes to developing and testing ...
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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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FeatureThyssenKrupp expands in South Carolina
German component supplier ThyssenKrupp has opened a new distribution centre in Charleston, South Carolina, to provide value-added kitting, sequencing, inspection, rework, export packaging, warehousing and transport to and from the Port of Charleston, mainly for vehicle and auto part producers.The US state already accommodates more than 250 automotive-related companies and ...
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FeatureInventory inversed
Changes in technology, economics and attitudes are driving a resurgence of interest in vendor managed inventory programmes among automotive manufacturersProduction lines need availability, not inventory. Manufacturers’ primary concern is that each individual part is a good one and that it is ready by the line when the assembly robot or ...
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FeatureJLR gets real about recycled aluminium loops
Jaguar Land Rover is taking steps to increase the amount of recycled aluminium it uses. Automotive Logistics finds out more… JLR's target is to use 75% recycled aluminium in its body structures by 2020Recycled material is playing a growing role in Jaguar Land Rover’s use of aluminium in its ...
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FeatureRussia: Too little, too late?
[sta_anchor id="1"]Russia’s softening of localisation requirements for carmakers is a welcome step forward but it may not help the country’s flagging automotive sector as much the government would likeUntil recently, the Russian government was standing firm on the localisation requirements it had agreed with carmakers, even as the market virtually ...
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FeatureEC hits truckmaker cartel with fines totalling nearly €3 billion
A group of four truck manufacturers has been hit with the highest ever cartel fine by the European Commission for fixing prices and consorting over the implementation timetable of new emissions standards.The EC said Volvo Trucks, Daimler, Paccar’s DAF and CNH Industrial’s Iveco had conspired with each other and with ...
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FeatureIs the digital future now history?
[sta_anchor id="1"]Electronic consignment notes were given the green light by the EU in 2011 but their implementation across European countries remains patchy. Has their time finally come… or gone? So far, only eight EU member states and Switzerland have ratified the so-called e-CMR protocol – the digital addition to the ...
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FeaturePackaging: Thinking smarter outside the box
[sta_anchor id="1"]Tracking technology is playing an ever greater role in the effectiveness of returnable packaging, but still has some way to go before it becomes ubiquitousTracking returnable containers, racks and pallets has come a long way during the past few years, and while barcoding is still the dominant technology, radio ...
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FeatureGefco appoints managers for PSA contract and East Asia area
Gefco has announced that Anne Lambusson (pictured) will be appointed to the position of PSA contract executive vice-president. She will replace Paul-Henri Fréret, who will take over the ASOR area management (East Asia) as executive vice-president.Lambusson has experience in both the automotive and rail sectors. In 1988, her automotive career ...
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Feature
Turkish car sector bounces back quickly from failed coup disruption
[Updated July 21st] The short-lived military coup that was attempted in Turkey last weekend had only a limited impact on the automotive sector in the country, according to representatives at the carmakers and ports, though how Thursday's declaration of a state of emergency in the country is going to impact ...
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FeatureFord announces senior leadership changes
Ford is making some top-level executive changes at its divisions in Europe and South America as a result of the imminent retirement of Barb Samardzich (pictured), vice-president and chief operating officer at Ford of Europe.Samardzich is retiring at the beginning of October after more than 26 years with the company. ...
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FeatureKuehne + Nagel expands on spare parts services for BMW
BMW has signed a contract with logistics provider Kuehne + Nagel for the management of its service parts facility at Bruckberg–Gündlkofen (pictured), near Landshut, northeast of Munich, Germany. From the 144,000 sq.m centre, Kuehne + Nagel will support car and motorcycle spare parts distribution.The facility includes more than 610,000 storage ...
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BCA continues buyout spree by snapping up Paragon
UK-based automotive service group BCA has bought rival UK transport and logistics provider Paragon Automotive for £105m ($138.5m). The buyout is subject to further 'earn-out payments' of up to £30m, based on the achievement of financial and market targets, according to BCA.BCA said the latest buyout was an important step ...
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FeatureLogistics providers recognised in FCA Qualitas awards
Four awards recognising excellence in logistics and supply chain management have been handed out by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) in Detroit, Michigan as part of the OEM’s sixth annual Qualitas awards for North American suppliers.FCA said the 23 awards recognised both production and non-production suppliers that not only demonstrated operational ...
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FeatureC4 Logistics wins Europe-wide contract with Cooper Standard
Time critical logistics provider C4 Logistics has signed a contract with automotive parts supplier Cooper Standard for expedited services across Europe. Operations began at the beginning of this month and cover Cooper Standard’s 22 factories in Europe, which include sites in Germany, the Czech Republic, Spain, Italy, Poland, France, Serbia ...
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ZF and TRW to combine aftermarket organisations
In a move towards further integration after its takeover of TRW Automotive last year, ZF is combining the two companies’ aftermarket organisations – ZF Services and TRW Aftermarket.The move, which will take effect on January 1st, will create the world’s second largest service organisation in the automotive supplier segment. ZF ...
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FeatureVolkswagen & Audi in Mexico part 3: Building in an extra level of efficiency
With VW’s Puebla plant expected to return to full capacity soon and Audi’s San José Chiapa facility poised to begin production, the Volkswagen Group in Mexico will be relying on its road, rail and port partners to meet future demand and quality standards