All articles by Rachael Hogg – Page 3

  • Article

    Tesla: ramping up and stepping down

    2016-05-06T10:01:27Z

    Tesla has announced that it is stepping up its production plans substantially, with expectations to increase output by more than 50% in the second half of the year compared to its current rate, while also launching production of the first cells by the end of this year at its 'Gigafactory' ...

  • Article

    Mercedes plans new engine plant in Poland, deepens supply chain in eastern Europe

    2016-05-04T15:23:03Z

    Daimler has announced it is planning to invest around €500m ($574m) in a new engine plant in Poland, expanding its powertrain footprint and its presence in eastern Europe.The new plant decision followed an earlier announcement that the carmaker would invest a further €560m to expand its plant in Kecskemét, Hungary ...

  • Australia Nissan table WEB2
    Article

    Nissan unfazed by OEM plant closures in Australia

    2016-04-28T17:31:50Z

    Nissan Australia has said it is unconcerned by the imminent shutdown of Australia’s last remaining vehicle manufacturing facilities and that its castings operation there will not be affected by the looming closure of the Ford, Toyota and GM-Holden plants.Speaking to Automotive Logistics recently, Nissan Australia spokesman Peter Fadeyev said demand ...

  • BertBong_Europe
    Article

    Ford’s Hans-Bert Bong to step down this week

    2016-04-27T16:01:16Z

    After more than 26 years with Ford, Dr Hans-Bert Bong (pictured), manager of material flow and supply chain management at Ford of Europe, has announced he is leaving the carmaker this Friday (April 29th).A replacement is expected to be announced in the coming days.Bong has spent nearly 20 years in ...

  • XuGuangqing
    Article

    China conference: Debating which way to go from here

    2016-04-26T15:53:16Z

    At the end of Automotive Logistics China 2016, held in Chengdu, industry decisions makers and experts discussed the importance of better logistics planning and engineering, reducing costs to stay competitive, and adapting to new technology.China’s growth continues to push the automotive supply chain and distribution network across the country, spreading ...

  • Article

    China conference: Debating which way to go from here

    2016-04-26T14:56:54Z

    At the end of Automotive Logistics China 2016, held in Chengdu, industry decisions makers and experts discussed the importance of better logistics planning and engineering, reducing costs to stay competitive, and adapting to new technology.

  • Stephen Dyer2
    Article

    China conference: catching up with digital and automation trends

    2016-04-25T17:32:04Z

    Steve Dyer, from Bain & Company, said China had a long way to go in catching up to the US and European productivityDespite China’s reputation as a manufacturing powerhouse, filling the world’s homes and stores with products ‘made in China’, rising labour and production costs are increasingly a competitive ...

  • Automotive LOGISTICS (Chen Zhongwei)20160420-6334
    Article

    China conference: New Silk Road gets back on the rails

    2016-04-20T11:17:12Z

    Updated April 24th to correct a quote misattributed to GefcoLong-distance rail freight between China and Europe is coming on apace, delegates at this week’s Automotive Logistics China 2016 conference, held in Chengdu, have heard.Over the past few years, the Chinese government has been ambitious in promoting its 'One Belt, One ...

  • Article

    Analysis: PSA ‘product blitz’ will put the focus on its supply chain

    2016-04-13T15:31:40Z

    'Push to Pass' plan will involve the launch of 26 new cars by 2021 with more local manufacturing in some areasPSA Peugeot-Citroën has announced some big organisational changes recently, both in terms of its group divisions and its approach to customer trends, with some big consequences for its supply ...

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    Article

    BMW’s Thailand division to increase exports to China

    2016-04-13T11:36:51Z

    BMW Group Thailand is planning to increase car exports over the next two years to 10,000 vehicles a year. The majority of that volume will be exported from the firm’s Rayong facility to China, but some units will also go to Malaysia.Last year, BMW announced a 1.1 billion baht ($31.4m) ...

  • New-Ford-Everest_Bridge
    Article

    Ford continues to invest in South Africa

    2016-04-12T14:30:47Z

    Ford has announced an investment of $170m (R2.5 billion) to expand operations at its Silverton Assembly Plant in Pretoria, South Africa. The OEM will produce the new Ford Everest SUV (pictured) and increase output of the Ford Ranger at the site.Production of the Ranger at the Silverton plant has been ...

  • Webb_Dock_West-large
    Article

    Australia’s biggest automotive terminal opens in Melbourne

    2016-04-11T16:55:18Z

    Phase one of Australia’s largest ro-ro and automotive terminal has just opened at Webb Dock West, Melbourne. The Melbourne international ro-ro and automotive terminal (MIRRAT) has been under construction for the last 18 months and includes a new 185,000 sq.m facility north of the current Webb Dock West car terminal.A ...

  • TruckPlatooning
    Article

    Platooning challenge showcases future of automotive logistics

    2016-04-06T15:17:42Z

    Six European truck manufacturers have taken part in the 2016 European Truck Platooning Challenge.The challenge, run by the current president of the European Council, saw OEMs running autonomous and human-driven trucks to Rotterdam, the Netherlands, from several European cities.The aim of the challenge was to highlight the potential benefits of ...

  • Tesla_Model3
    Article

    Tesla’s Model 3 puts customers and the supply chain to the test

    2016-04-06T13:42:38Z

    The Tesla Model 3 is finally on order, almost two years after the vehicle was first announced. The mass-market, lower-priced electric car has seen unprecedented demand, reaching 276,000 pre-orders in the first 72 hours.Customers had to put down a $1,000 (refundable) deposit for the new Model 3. Given that 276,000 ...

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    Article

    UK commercial vehicle exports up a third

    2016-04-06T12:24:39Z

    British-built commercial vehicle (CV) exports were up by more than a third in 2015, with around nine in ten destined for EU countries, figures by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) shows.Of the 94,479 CVs manufactured in Britain in 2015, 47,052 were exported, a rise of 34.7% compared ...

  • Australia road_214578130
    Article

    All change for Aussie rules

    2016-04-05T08:00:27Z

    After manufacturing comes to a close next year, will the finished vehicle logistics industry in Oz come good – or cark it?The end of car assembly in Australia is imminent and with it, comes a change to the face of the industry. This year, Ford is set to shut its ...

  • BMW autonomous trolley
    Article

    BMW tests autonomous vehicles in factories to move parts

    2016-03-23T16:50:19Z

    BMW Group is testing a number of autonomous vehicles on its factory floors as part of an automation drive that is expected to help cut costs by 5% per vehicle annually.The project began this month at BMW’s logistics centre in Wackersdorf, Germany, where the suitcase-sized trolleys are being used to ...

  • Andreas Ginkel, Opel
    Article

    Europe conference panel discussion: A time for optimism

    2016-03-22T17:04:47Z

    Finally, the outlook in Europe is positive once again. Of course, the market is fragile and subject to risk, but on the path to recovery. Last year, most European countries saw strong growth, with many in the double digits, and the European Union had stronger growth than almost all other ...

  • Axel van het Kaar Ford ALEurope
    Article

    Europe conference: how to manage more with less in plants

    2016-03-22T15:02:03Z

    Axel Van Het Kaar, FordComplex, varied and flexible inbound supply chains increasingly require sophisticated handling and line-feeding processes in plants. In Europe, where carmakers often face space constraints, particularly at older plants in western Europe, there has been more of a focus on developing in-plant strategies that can help ...

  • Michael Gorny, Opel ALEurope
    Article

    Europe conference: Leading the fourth industrial revolution

    2016-03-21T10:51:05Z

    Christian Schwede, head of department at Fraunhofer IMLAs Sam Cooke sang, “a change is gonna come.” While he may not have been singing about the possible fourth industrial revolution – or Industry 4.0 – everyone at this year’s Automotive Logistics Europe conference in Bonn was in agreement that digital ...