Scania to build battery plant and research centre in Sweden
Scania is building a lithium battery assembly facility at its plant in Södertälje, Sweden to support production of a range of electric trucks and buses. The cells will be supplied by Northvolt in Sweden but battery module assembly onsite will overcome the dangers and cost associated with the inbound delivery of finished modules
Vittorio Battaglia takes over as head of Gefco France
Vittorio Battaglia has been appointed president of Gefco France and given a place on the logistics provider’s executive committee. He replaces Emmanuel Delachambre, who has moved to become general manager of Hertz France.
A Lucid approach to sustainable packaging
Battery EVs are currently heralded as the answer to an emissions-free future of driving, but the revolution will only be as green as the supply chain supporting it. An important part of that supply chain is the packaging used to deliver the inbound parts. Lucid Motors’ John Ferry and Rodney Salmon, of Salmon RTP, discussed the importance of putting sustainable packaging first at the latest Livestream Hour this week
Can the UK supply chain keep up with a 2030 ban on new ICE vehicle sales?
The UK government has announced it is bringing forward its plans to phase out the sale of new cars and vans powered by internal combustion engines. Daniel Harrison, automotive analyst at Ultima Media, examines how realistic that is and whether supply chains are ready to produce enough electric vehicles and batteries.
Stable growth post-Covid will depend on greater supplier collaboration
At last week’s Livestream Hour Joe McCabe, CEO and president of AutoForecast Solutions, said 2021 was going to be a recovery year in global vehicle production and that continued recovery to 2027 would be based on greater stability. A more globally integratred supply chain, thanks in part to revision of Trump policy following last week’s election, and provide opportunities for tier suppliers, who are getting more involved complex subassembly
Coupa Software buys Llamasoft for $1.5 billion
Coupa Software has bought supply chain design software provider Llamasoft for $1.5 billion.
Watch: Supply Chain Update – coronavirus crisis impacts and US election implications (EP.1)
Automotive Logistics’ Livestream Hour season 2 kicks off with the latest forecasts on global vehicle production, a review of supply chain trends and insight into what the US presidential election results could mean for the sector.
ProAct launches range of tracking tools for outbound sector
Supply chain and logistics software expert ProAct is introducing a new range of on-demand digital products designed to manage global multimodal supply chains from manufacturer to market. The first package in the range is ProActXpress Yard Management, which the company said is wholly preconfigured to speed up and simplify delivery and management of finished vehicles.
BMW selects Penske Logistics for LLP services at Spartanburg
Penske Logistics will be providing lead logistics provider (LLP) services for BMW Manufacturing in South Carolina following the signing of a multi-year contract. It is the first time that BMW has outsourced LLP services in the US and the first time Penske has had an LLP contract with the carmaker, though it has been providing other services at Spartanburg since 2007. Penske also provides LLP services for Ford in North America and GM in Mexico.
Chinese carmaker Haval signs a major investment contract in Russia
Chinese carmaker Haval has signed a special investment contract worth 42.4 billion rubles ($650m) to expand the car plant it opened in Uzlovaya last year and build a components plant to localise the supply of core parts, including engines, transmissions, electronic control modules, and vehicle control systems
Toyota supply chain management VP Pflughaupt retires, replaced by Keith Robertson
Randy Pflughaupt is retiring as Toyota North America’s group vice president of supply chain management after 38 years at the company. He will be replaced by Keith Robertson.
Can Tesla shift the balance of EV battery and cell supply chains away from China?
At Tesla’s recent Battery Day presentation, the company promised to shake up its battery supply chains by moving into cell production and even the mining of raw material, but how realistic are these targets?
Nissan consolidates Europe, Russia, Africa, Middle East, India and Oceania markets
Nissan has announced that Europe, Russia, Africa, Middle East, India and Oceania will form one business region, the AMIEO region. Current Nissan Europe chairman Gianluca de Ficchy will be the chairman, while Kevin Fitzpatrick will be senior vice president for manufacturing and supply chain management.
Watch: Why Volvo’s Martin Corner thinks there has never been a more exciting time for automotive logistics
Volvo Cars’ head of global logistics thinks the supply chain has a long way to go to match the digital, visibility and flexibility requirements of the automotive sector, but he also tells the audience of Automotive Logistics and Supply Chain Live that electrification and new distribution models provide an opportunity for positive transformation.
Watch: Spotlight on the Indian supply chain
Watch this panel discussion from Automotive Logistics and Supply Chain Live on key challenges from the crisis, digitalisation developments and opportunities for the automotive supply chain in India featuring logistics experts from FCA, JCB and Smart Links Technology.
Watch: How Volkswagen is charging an electric revolution in its supply chain
As Volkswagen Group gears up to manufacture 1.5m EVs per year by 2025, it is transforming its supply chain. Danny Auerswald, who leads the carmaker’s all-electric factory in Dresden, explains how Volkswagen is transforming plants and logistics to meet its electric and sustainability targets during Automotive Logistics and Supply Chain Live.
Watch: Commercial vehicle supply chains with Scania and MAN
The supply chain and logistics requirements for commercial vehicles, including trucks and buses, can vary significantly. During a panel at Automotive Logistics and Supply Chain Live, supply chain leaders from MAN and Scania explain how they are optimising networks and responding to the crisis.
Watch: PwC study shows how electrification will transform European vehicle product portfolio and value chain
Electrification is powering ahead in Europe, with manufacturers set to launch a large array of lower cost and more premium vehicles this decade that will increasingly compete on price and total cost of ownership with ICE vehicles. Christoph Stürmer presents a PwC study that reveals opportunities in product types as well as where Europe can make gains in its supply chain.
Watch: How to drive supply chain innovation
Innovation is key to driving automotive supply chains and logistics forward, whether it be adapting existing processes, developing new ideas or implementing new technology. In this unique exchange at Automotive Logistics and Supply Chain Live, supply chain strategist Wolfang Lehmacher and INEOS Automotive’s Marko Weisshaar share their vision for innovation and creativity in automotive logistics.
Watch: Optimising supply chain demand and capacity planning
Manufacturers are facing recovering but uncertain automotive demand, while limits in ocean and air freight capacity risk disruption and cost increeses. In this session at Automotive Logistics and Supply Chain Live, experts from Toyota North America, Adient and CNW discuss strategies for improving demand forecasting and network planning across transport modes.
