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Company ContentElectrifying Europe: EU ‘Fit for 55’ legislation will transform the automotive supply chain
The EU’s latest salvo to mitigate against climate change will eliminate ICEs and transform automotive supply chains across Europe and beyond
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Analysis
Carbon-neutral supply chain a priority for Volkswagen
Volkswagen is making a concerted effort to make the way it moves its vehicles as sustainable as the electric vehicles it is moving. A good example is seen in the export of ID.4 from Germany to the US, as Marcus Williams finds out
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Article
AL FVL Summer 2021 Digital Edition – Gearing up the supply chain for sustainable growth
The summer digital edition of Automotive Logistics and Finished Vehicle Logistics magazine is out now features interviews with Ford and VW, as well as an overview of activity at the North American vehicle handling ports
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Article
Cross the plains and rugged mountains
Canadian Pacific has been increasing its investment in compound and track infrastructure to support growing automotive business despite the disruption caused by the coronavirus and looks set to continue its reach across the US and Canada
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Article
Making the best of it at Mazatlán
Terminal Marítima Mazatlán (TMAZ) runs the finished vehicle terminal at the Mexican port of Mazatlán and over the last decade the company has invested $20m in infrastructure and technology to increase volumes. While Covid has hit throughput Nissan remains committed and TMAZ is gearing up for a return in trade
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Article
Smart tools for sustainable logistics at Hellmann
Monika Thielemann-Hald joined Hellmann Worldwide Logistics just as Covid started disrupting manufacturing for east to west. But as global head of automotive logistics she has helped steer the company through the crisis with the right mix of teamwork and smart technology
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Article
Building a future for vehicle trade after Covid
Last year was one of unprecedented challenge for the UK’s vehicle handling ports but, as Marcus Williams reports, they maintained operations, invested in infrastructure and are taking lessons forward for future trade
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News
European carmakers need a circular approach to EV production
To meet ambitious goals to cut vehicle emissions in Europe, carmakers are focusing all their efforts on increasing the number of battery electric vehicles (EVs) they make and sell. There were more than 1m EVs and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) sold in Europe last year but by 2030 that number is expected to hit 5m in annual sales. That will put a big demand on lithium-ion battery production as carmakers seek to localise supply.
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Article
Inside Volkswagen’s battery logistics
Volkswagen Group Components has developed a standardised, returnable container for the safe delivery of lithium battery cells and assembled modules in support of its ambitious electric vehicle goals leading up to 2030
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Article
A game of two halves at Europe’s vehicle ports
Volatility at Europe’s leading finished vehicle handling ports was made worse in 2020 by the impact of restrictions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic in the first half of the year and then by resurgent demand in the second half. Marcus Williams reports
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Article
How Bosch is connecting its business for the AIoT era
Robert Bosch CIO Vijay Ratnaparkhe is continuing a revolution in the company’s corporate IT division as it takes a starring role in connecting Bosch operating units and products – expanding the possibility for data-driven services and AI across the business and supply chain.
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Article
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
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News
German carmakers race to secure European battery cell production
The millions of electric vehicles being produced also need millions of batteries. But where do the German manufacturers source their cells from?
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News
Decarbonising the supply chain will be a gradual effort
With the range of electric vehicles (EVs) available on the market it is possible to buy a car that does not have any tailpipe emissions. The realities of energy generation mean that true zero-emission motoring is still some way off but at least there is a clear first step. Decarbonising the supply chain, however, is a complex issue with many hurdles still to overcome.
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Article
A fitful start to the year for automotive supply in North America
The repercussions of Covid-19 continue to disrupt the automotive supply chain in North America, not least in the disruption caused to inbound container freight and the serious shortage in the supply of semiconductors. Marcus Williams reports
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Article
A fab future for the automotive sector
A shortage of semiconductors is hampering global automotive production. Bettina Weiss, chief of staff and global smart mobility lead at electronics association SEMI, tells Marcus Williams why this is happening and why OEMs need to forge more direct links with the chip manufacturers
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Article
From doom and gloom to fast and furious
Ocean-going container vessels have been anchored off the west coast of the US in January because of congested port terminals. Dr Noel Hacegaba, deputy executive director and COO at the Port of Long Beach tells Marcus Williams about the misalignment of supply and capacity, and how the port is tackling it
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Article
Good things come in sustainable packages
The Suppliers Partnership for the Environment (SP) is an association of vehicle makers and suppliers that works with US government bodies, including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), on projects designed to advance environmental sustainability while providing economic value to the automotive supply chain. At the end of 2020, the SP published guidance on sustainable packaging aimed at reducing waste in the automotive sector and increasing the amount of packaging that could be recycled
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Article
Credit where credit is due
The coronavirus pandemic meant 2020 was a tough year for everyone in the automotive sector. GM was no exception. While the carmaker’s sales for the calendar year reached 2.5m units, total deliveries were down 12% and retail deliveries down 6% for the year. However, toward the end of 2020 retail sales recovered to pre-pandemic levels. According to the carmaker’s executive vice-president, Steve Carlisle, that was down to the efforts made by GM’s workforce. They kept launches on track and each other safe.
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Article
Second-hand cars, first-rate opportunities
The used car sector is hot, with high demand from consumers and rising prices. However, as the supply of used cars is ultimately limited by the number of new cars entering the market and consumers trading in their old cars, actual volumes have not been significantly higher this year. What has changed, on both sides of the Atlantic, is where that volume is going.
