VW Group reports strong Q1 but chip shortage will damage Q2
In its first quarter results for 2021 VW Group has reported a 21.2% increase in global vehicle deliveries on the same period last year, reaching 2.4m passenger and commercial units.
Polestar looks deeper into supply chain with Circulor
Polestar has signed a deal blockchain technology provider Circulor that aims to extend its visibility of ethical raw materials sourcing.
Stronger partnerships will drive a more sustainable car sector
Overcoming the disruptions caused to the automotive industry over the last 12 months by the Covid pandemic has revealed the importance of long-term partnerships between OEMs, and their parts and logistics suppliers. What is more, at this year’s Automotive Logistics and Supply Chain Europe conference, carmakers talked about how important those long-term partnerships are going to be if the industry is to clean up its act and become more sustainable.
How the European automotive industry aims to build back semiconductor and chip supply
OEMs, suppliers and EU officials are considering how best to develop Europe’s semiconductor supply bases to mitigate current and future shortages, but the broad gaps at many levels – including for older, larger chips – mean there will be no magic bullet
Real-time visibility platforms keep automotive supply chains moving
The global automotive market is competitive and volatile, and manufacturers and OEMs were already under pressure thanks to new market challengers such as Tesla, and consumer preferences shifting towards electric vehicles (EVs).
Why just-in-time will remain the way forward for Toyota
Leon van der Merwe is leading inbound, outbound and service parts logistics for Toyota Motor Europe. At this year’s Automotive Logistics and Supply Chain Europe Live conference he told Christopher Ludwig about the carmaker’s strategy to modernise just-in-time and make Toyota’s logistics more sustainable
Greater cross-sector dialogue needed to solve chip crisis
The current global shortage in the supply of computer chips to the automotive industry is causing significant disruption to production and looks likely to continue into next year. There are signs though that the current crisis could lead to new forms of partnership between the automotive and semiconductor industries, and a move away from the rigid hierarchy of the traditional automotive supply chain. That promises to lead to a more secure relationship for the future.
Watch: How today’s chip shortage could help the automotive supply chain flourish in the long run
The semiconductor crisis has caused millions of units in lost production but is also pointing the way towards a more fruitful relationship between OEMs, tier-1 suppliers, foundries and chip producers globally, especially as more electronics are added to future vehicles.
Watch: European supply chain needs change in skills and culture to remain global automotive powerhouse
The European automotive industry has faced a year of crises, but if it invests in the right digital tools, adapts sustainable processes and an agile working culture, it can achieve long-term sustainability targets and recovery, according to experts from Volkswagen and CSR Europe.
Watch: Spinning the wheel of supply chain innovation
Leaders from INEOS Automotive and GEFCO see AI and real-time visibility as game changes for logistics, but point out that innovation is not just about implementing new systems or digitalising processes, but also adapting working culture and working with the right partners.
Watch: Preparing for a 99.99% chance of supply chain disruption
Disruptions in the automotive supply chain are a near certainty but nonetheless near impossible to pinpoint. Supply chain experts from automotive supplier Hella, tracking provider Wakeo and emergency freight provider CNW discuss the best ways to minimise risk.
Watch: Transforming the European supply chain the Toyota way
Toyota Motor Europe’s VP of supply chain, Leon van der Merve, explains how the carmaker plans to reduce logistics emissions and how he wants to modernise just-in-time to be even leaner wherever possible.
Watch: Europe goes giga on the battery supply chain
Europe has lagged Asia in the race to produce lithium-ion batteries, but automotive and battery players are investing heavily to scale up production. A new forecast by Automotive from Ultima Media reveals the opportunities.
Watch: Partnerships the only path for real logistics change at Toyota and Volvo Cars
Volvo’s head of supply chain management Martin Corner and Hans Cremers, Toyota Motor Europe’s leader for logistics purchasing, want to achieve sustainability targets and support digital supply chains – and agree that long-term partners will be paramount
Think Tank: Future-proofing aftermarket and service parts logistics
As automotive service parts demand and requirements evolve, logistics experts from Jaguar Land Rover, Bosch, Kuehne+Nagel and the European parts association, CLEPA, look to the capacity, technology and network changes necessary to maintain service levels.
Light at the end of the Suez canal but challenges for automotive
Of the many disruptions the pandemic has caused, the chain reaction of delays and spiralling costs in container global container shipping must have been one of the hardest to deal with. The delays in the Suez Canal were just the icing on an already unappetising cake.
Battery makers settle legal dispute over supply to US
LG Energy Solution and SK Innovation are settling their legal dispute relating to EV battery supply in the US and South Korea.
DHL Supply Chain report looks at automotive challenges ahead
Contract logistics provider DHL Supply Chain has published a report that shows how the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic will create and speed up certain trends in the automotive industry but arrest others.
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.
