Bringing battery production in Europe up to speed As carmakers in Europe scramble to localise pure electric vehicle (EV) production they have one major obstacle to overcome – Europe has no legacy of lithium-ion battery production. China has long dominated the mining, refining and production of battery cells, a situation that European carmakers were happy to go along with until very recently. Marcus Williams
Highlights from Automotive Logistics & Supply Chain Europe 2023 Watch a teaser from our highly successful Automotive Logistics & Supply Chain Europe 2023 conference, which was full of insightful discussions, celebration and valuable networking on the importance and future of automotive supply chain management in the region
Digital clouds on the horizon for finished vehicle logistics The transport capacity shortage in finished vehicle deliveries could well be the next major disruption for the automotive industry. For Volvo Cars that means innovating to make the best use of available resources, which it is managing with its Over the Horizon planning strategy. Marcus Williams
Renault and Bosch reap the benefits of digital investments Carmakers and their suppliers are looking at a range of digital platforms to provide a complete end-to-end view of the automotive supply chain and make operations more predictable, stable and transparent. They are also looking to save transport costs at a time of rising fuel and equipment costs, a saving that goes hand-in-hand with a more sustainable transport strategy. Marcus Williams
Supply chain needs its own movement in the C-suite Recruiting and retaining staff in automotive logistics is one of the most pressing issues the industry is currently facing, with shortages reported across all functions, from warehouse labour to truck driving. Marcus Williams
Carmakers and tier ones need better supply chain alignment If the semiconductor shortage taught the automotive sector anything, it is that closer collaboration between carmakers and their suppliers, not just at the tier one level, is crucial to mitigate disruption to the supply chain. Marcus Williams
Audi’s ambitious strategy for a cleaner future The automotive industry continues to fight supply chain disruption on a number of fronts, from the ongoing shortage of electronic parts, the war in Ukraine, high inflation, and a critical shortage of transport capacity and labour. The impact of these factors is estimated by analysts S&P Global to account for a 50m shortfall in vehicle deliveries between January 2021 and February 2023 (with 19m accounted for by the semiconductor shortage). Marcus Williams
Interview: Jean-Christophe Deville, Head of Production and Logistics, Toyota Toyota’s Jean-Christophe Deville discusses prioritising supply chain planning with the customer view, providing LSPs in Europe with confidence to invest and dealing with the bumps in the long road to sustainable logistics.
Interview: Step-by-step to a better supply chain at Plastic Omnium Plastic Omnium’s Étienne Jacob wants to improve communication between OEM and tier one supply chain teams to help mitigate risks – part of his strategy of practical steps for suppliers to improve efficiency, sustainability and digitalisation one step at a time.
Interview: Renault's journey to the supply chain metaverse Jean-François Salles reveals how Renault Group is advancing predictive management of its supply chain and supporting employees to take faster decisions across locations – while looking ahead to a true ‘metaverse’ for supply chain and logistics
Interview: How Jaguar Land Rover manufacturing learned to be flexible Paulina Chmielarz reveals how Jaguar Land Rover’s production team has worked with supply chain teams to increase planning flexibility, and the great potential of its overhaul of manufacturing and logistics systems
Interview: Audi’s Dieter Braun on leading a long-term sustainable supply chain strategy Dieter Braun says the key to reducing emissions and making supply chains more sustainable is committment to Audi and the Volkswagen Group’s long-term strategy – as well as focusing on total emission calculations in transport and purchasing decisions, including for energy sources.
Interview: Changing trade, technology and mindsets across BMW’s supply chain Dr Michael Nikolaides, who leads BMW Group’s global logistics, talks about how the OEM is adapting its supply chain to respond to geopolitical changes and new requirements, from vehicle logistics capacity to sustainable trucking
