North America
Trade wars compound economic risks for automotive supply chain
The impact on tariffs and especially of uncertainty in key trading regions including the US, China and Europe are having real impacts on the automotive supply chain, according to a new report by Automotive from Ultima Media’s new business intelligence unit.
Daimler tests automated trucks on public roads
Daimler Trucks and its newly acquired business, Torc Robotics, which specialises in automated driving technology, have moved to the next stage of their autonomous truck trials in the US. The companies announced that they have been trying out automated lorries with Level 4 technology on highways in southwest Virginia, where ...
Robert Christensen to manage parts operations for Zotye in US
Robert Christensen has been named vice-president of parts operations for Haah Automotive Holdings and Zotye USA
Collaboration and communication needed for finished vehicle logistics
A vehicle distribution network is only as good as the lines of communication between the OEM and its logistics partners, and given the pressures the industry is currently under – ageing infrastructure, sub-optimised networks and uncertainty over trade – better communication and closer collaboration are more important than ever.
Sizing up growth opportunities in a changing market
US ports and logistics providers are being challenged by a consumer shift towards bigger vehicles, while OEMs are operating under the shadow of global trade wars. Speakers at the 2019 FVL Import Export in Baltimore discussed the obstacles and the opportunities
GM expands service parts distribution in Michigan
The vehicle-maker has officially opened a $65m service parts centre in Michigan that will pack 120m parts per year for the AC Delco and GM Genuine Parts brands. The new facility, which covers 102,000 sq.m in the suburb of Burton in Flint, is triple the size of the facility it is replacing and employs 800 people, according to GM.
Lisa Shashek takes over as head of Cassens Transport
Lisa Shashek has replaced Richard Suhre as president and CEO of US vehicle carrier Cassens Transport, with Brian Suhre becoming executive vice-president and chief operating officer.
Baltimore and Jacksonville handling higher vehicle volumes
The busiest vehicle-handling ports in the US, Baltimore and Jacksonville, have reported gains in the first half of 2019, through higher import and export volumes. Baltimore has seen an increase of 8% compared with the same period last year, handling roughly 428,000 units between January and June. It reported record figures for March, with more than 59,000 vehicles processed, plus around 95,500 units of agricultural and construction equipment. The latest figures continue the growth the port has seen over the last eight years…
North American ports go in search of the promised land
US east coast ports have been grabbing land to handle increased volumes while some on the west coast deal with dramatic volume fluctuations. In Mexico, meanwhile, private investment is helping to deal with congestion. Marcus Williams reports on the performance of North American vehicle handling ports in 2018
Nissan North America: On track to cut container pool shrinkage
Container pool shrinkage is an issue that has a costly impact on OEMs and tier suppliers across the automotive industry. At various points in the extended supply chains which support today’s vehicle manufacturing operations, containers go missing, are misused or are even stolen to be resold and used elsewhere – ...
BMW to collaborate with Braidy Atlas on US aluminium supply
BMW has signed an agreement for the sustainable supply of aluminium to its US assembly plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina, with Braidy Atlas, the joint venture between metal suppliers, Braidy Industries and Russia’s United Company Rusal.
Challenging times for US car carriers
Despite some recent legislative wins on permissible overhangs, rig length and adaptable trailers, the US car-carrier sector continues to face a number of operational challenges, including a capacity squeeze, more demanding customers and downward price pressure
Working together to drive out disruption
In the context of testing trade relations and new technology in supply chains, finished vehicle logistics providers need to work out how to position themselves for the future, delegates heard at April’s FVL North America conference in Huntington Beach, California
ITC report outlines pros and cons of USMCA
The proposed United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) is likely to lead to an increase in automotive components production within the US, which will also increase the automotive sector’s net employment by more than 28,000 full-time jobs, according to new report from the International Trade Commission (ITC) looking into the likely effects ...
Toyota North America: Breaking down supply chain barriers
Toyota is realigning its production and service parts organisation by integrating its inbound and aftermarket supply chain departments into a new division called PDAD. Group vice-president of the new division, Alok Vaish, explains the thinking behind it
Toyota merges production and service parts logistics in North America
Toyota is comprehensively realigning its production and service parts organisation in North America with an integrated supply chain division as part of its overall One Toyota initiative, designed to improve customer service and cost efficiency.
Mitsubishi starts shipments to Mexico via Mazatlán
Mitsubishi has delivered its first shipment of Japanese-made vehicles to Mexico through the port of Mazatlán. It was the largest single delivery of vehicles by a carmaker to the port, consisting of 4,870 vehicles including Mirage hatchback, Mirage G4, Eclipse Cross, Outlander and L200 units. The vehicles were unloaded in ...
John Begg moves to Johnson Controls
John Begg has moved to tier supplier Johnson Controls as director of global supply chain and transportation for its Power Solutions division, which makes and distributes vehicle batteries.
Genuine Parts acquires Hennig Fahrzeugteile
US-based automotive parts distributor the Genuine Parts Company has acquired German parts supplier the Hennig Fahrzeugteile Group.
The long way home
For inbound automotive supply chains, returnable packaging just makes sense. No carmaker wants to spend money on wood, paper and cardboard again and again, only to have to fork out straight away for costly waste disposal. Far better to pay once for a robust, reusable container that provides better protection ...
