Toyota to invest $10bn in US operations over five years as battery manufacturing plant opens in North Carolina Toyota will invest $10bn in its US operations over the next five years, following the opening of a new Toyota battery plant in Liberty, North Carolina. James McLoughlin
Tariffs and tensions: Trends in North American automotive logistics From tariffs to tensions, the North American automotive logistics market is grappling with uncertainty and disruption, emphasising the need for resilience. James McLoughlin
Cross-border automotive freight consolidation to mitigate US tariffs Logistics service provider CH Robinson is aiming to tackle the impact of higher US tariffs by consolidating freight in its cross-border logistics. Megan Kelly
Regional tariffs, trade deals, and what they mean for automotive logistics and supply chains Automotive manufacturers and logistics providers face a shifting geopolitical and regulatory landscape as the US recalibrates trade relations with key vehicle- and parts-exporting nations. Megan Kelly
Ford recalls 312,000 vehicles as product cycles speed up Ford has recalled 312,000 vehicles across five different 2025 models due to potential failure of the Electronic Brake Booster (EBB) while driving or using the Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) feature. If the EBB fails, it can cause a loss of power brake assist. Megan Kelly
McLaren invests in VPC at Baltimore port with Tradepoint Atlantic McLaren partners with Tradepoint Atlantic to establish a 4,600 sq.m vehicle processing centre at Sparrow’s Point, streamlining North American distribution and value-added services. Marcus Williams
US announces new tariff rates, delays implementation again US president Donald Trump has again delayed tariffs on individual countries, extending the implementation deadline from today (1 August) until next week. Megan Kelly
US reaches trade deal with Japan, puts 93% tariff on Chinese graphite The US has struck a trade deal with Japan, reducing the threatened tariff rate of 25% on goods imported to the US to 15%, providing Japan invests $550 billion in the US. Megan Kelly
Routes, reassessments and regionalisation: How auto supply chains are turning trade changes into network gains In our latest livestream, logistic experts explored how to capitalise on crises, examining finished vehicle routes, port congestion and a fluctuating EV landscape Charlie Blackie-Kelly
Catch up on the highlights of ALSC Digital Strategies North America 2025 Last week, Automotive Logistics and Supply Chain Digital Strategies North America returned to Nashville. Watch the highlight reel to see what delegates experienced at event.
Vehicle throughput remains steady at Vancouver but is expected to increase when Annacis VPC opens Tariffs on Chinese electric vehicle imports have affected volumes through the Canadian port of Vancouver but vehicle sales in Canada are up and imports from Mexico have remained consistent. Marcus Williams
ChargePoint and Eaton announce a new collaboration aimed at tackling insufficient EV charging infrastructure The partnership allows the two companies to provide end-to-end solutions for EV infrastructure, including charging stations and engineering services. The goal is to roll these offerings out across the US, Canada and the UK. Charlie Blackie-Kelly
US automotive import tariffs hit prices and aggravate consumer uncertainty, says National Automobile Dealers Association The combined impact of vehicle and parts import tariffs could cut production and sales forecasts in the US this year, according to figures from the National Automobile Dealers Association, with consumer spending and manufacturing investment revised. Marcus Williams
Stellantis is pausing production at plants in Canada and Mexico and laying off 900 staff in the US As US tariffs on vehicle imports kicked in this week, Stellantis announced it is temporarily shutting plants in Canada and Mexico, with knock-on, short-term layoffs for staff at stamping, transmission and casting plants in the US. Marcus Williams
Audi and BMW call for tariff-free trade in North America as Trump tariffs take their toll German carmakers are holding their breath for the next Trump tariff announcement to see if USMCA local content rules will necessitate higher prices and production adjustments in North America. Marcus Williams
US to impose global tariffs of 25% on steel and aluminium imports; European Commission announces retaliatory levies [Updated March 13] The decision by Trump to impose tariffs on European imports of the metals, affecting more than €8 billion-worth of EU exports, adds to tariffs on other exports worth €18 billion. Marcus Williams
Donald Trump is imposing 25% tariffs on steel and aluminium from Canada and Mexico, and could include auto parts Donald Trump is holding the threat of 25% tariffs over auto parts and metals imports from Canada and Mexico, which could disrupt the North American automotive supply chain. The US president added that he will add new wider tariffs on finished vehicles, to be announced on April 2. Marcus Williams
Ford’s president, CEO and director James Farley warns of serious financial impact on auto sector if Trump tariffs persist [Updated February 11] Ford’s president, CEO and director James Farley used its Q4 earnings call last week to warn that any extended use of tariffs on automotive products from Canada and Mexico would have a huge adverse impact on the entire value system of the US automotive industry. He drove home the warnings at this week’s Wolfe Research Auto, Auto Tech and Semiconductor Conference in New York. Marcus Williams
Trump’s tariff pose on imports from Canada and Mexico tests resiliency of supply chain planners Even with a month’s grace period, the threat of US tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico made by Donald Trump over the weekend is creating supply chain uncertainty across the North American automotive industry. Carmakers are calling for attention to USMCA rules and warning of the impact on jobs, investment and consumers. Marcus Williams
Strike by ILWU over manning and automation disrupts finished vehicle imports at Canadian port of Vancouver [Updated November 13] A lockout of workers by the British Columbia Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) following threatened strike action by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU), which was affecting cargo throughput at the Canadian port of Vancouver, has ended following intervention by Canada’s labour minister. Steven MacKinnon has used federal powers to end work stoppages at the port, ordering binding and final arbitration between labour unions and ports ownership. Marcus Williams
Stellantis and LG Energy Solution begin battery production in Canada Stellantis’ battery-making joint venture with LG Energy Solution – NextStar Energy – has started battery module production at its new Windsor facility in Ontario, Canada. Marcus Williams
Container ports at LA, Long Beach and Montreal disrupted by lithium battery fires The US ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach were forced to shut container terminals on September 26 because of a fire caused when a truck carrying lithium-ion batteries overturned on the Vincent Thomas Bridge at Terminal Island. The LA Fire Department moved and contained the load at another location in the port of LA, where the container of batteries continued to burn out. Marcus Williams
BMW localising North American battery supply chain despite EV slowdown BMW’s drive toward a regionalised battery supply chain in North America may have lost some momentum in the face of lower EV demand but the carmaker is still loyal to its electric strategy Simon Warburton
Canada imposes tariffs on EVs and materials from China The Government of Canada is imposing a 100% tariff on all imported Chinese-made electric vehicles (EVs) beginning October 1 this year, one of four measures the country has announced this week to address unfair international competition. Marcus Williams
Canada rail strikes live blog: Authority orders arbitration between Teamsters and rail companies Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) union has appealed against the arbitration that ended the work stoppage at CN and CPKC Megan Kelly Marcus Williams
Gerardo de la Torre: Digital shift ‘absolutely necessary’ for Nissan’s supply chain Nissan Group of North America has been restructuring to prioritise integrated digitalisation across its business units, to improve visibility and data analytics while remaining compliant and cyber-secure. Megan Kelly
Stellantis opens automated Mopar parts centre in eastern Canada Stellantis has invested more than $18.2m in a parts distribution centre (PDC) in Brampton, Ontario to move Mopar brand service parts through to the greater Toronto area, Quebec and eastern Canada. Marcus Williams
ALSC Digital Strategies North America: Recap blog Follow our recap blog below for key highlights and knowledge shared at Automotive Logistics & Supply Chain Digital Strategies North America 2024, which focused on digitalising North America’s end-to-end automotive supply chain. Following the event in Nashville on 26-27 June, we will continue sharing news and features that relate to the speakers and companies involved in the event. Keep following the blog, as we will share videos straight from the main stage and the Red Sofa at the event! Automotive Logistics
Red Sofa Interview: VW’s Anu Goel on thinking regionally in FVL Anu Goel, executive vice-president, Group After Sales & Service, Volkswagen Group speaks to Christopher Ludwig, chief content officer, Automotive Logistics about bringing together North America’s US, Canada and Mexico vehicle logistics divisions under a Virtual Task Force to explore more opportunities that are beneficial for the region as a whole.
Volkswagen Group’s North America vehicle logistics approach saves cost and delivery time In the last year, Volkswagen Group of America’s finished vehicle logistics teams have united their US, Mexico and Canada divisions, under the umbrella of Anu Goel’s leadership and ’Virtual Task Force’. Now, Goel and the team are seeing results, not only in efficiency and capacity, but in millions of dollars’ worth of working capital and transport savings. Megan Kelly
How to democratise data and enable transparency in FVL Sharing data and knowledge in finished vehicle logistics, and across the wider automotive logistics sector, will be beneficial for OEMs and tier suppliers alike – but despite this, there is still a reluctance to break the industry norms and trust other parties with data and information. At this year’s Finished Vehicle Logistics North America conference, leaders from Ford, Subaru, VW and more spoke about why it’s necessary to break the status quo and democratise data to see effective results. Megan Kelly
DP World provides cross-border containerised vehicle delivery service From the beginning of June this year DP World will be providing an intermodal rail service for containerised car shipments between Mexico, the US and Canada. The port terminal and inland logistics provider is using 16-metre (53ft) containers with R-Rak cassette systems in answer to the ro-ro and multilevel rail-capacity shortage for vehicle shipments in North America. Marcus Williams
Canada rail faces strike action The Teamsters Canada union, which represents 9,000 workers at Canada’s two biggest railroads, has threatened strike action that would disrupt North America’s supply chains from as early as May 22. Megan Kelly
Supercharging service: Mitsubishi’s Mississauga makeover elevates aftersales Mitsubishi Motor Sales of Canada is investing in space to strengthen its aftersales service across the country. Brian McGrath, director of aftersales, tells Marcus Williams about an expansion strategy built on good technology, strong partnerships and customer loyalty Marcus Williams
NMG to supply GM with graphite anode material for EV battery production GM has signed an agreement with battery materials producer NMG for the supply of graphite active anode material used to make batteries for its electric vehicles (EVs). The agreement, which begins on an initial six-year term, will see NMG supply 18 tonnes of the material per year when production is fully ramped up. Marcus Williams
VW Group looks for partnerships to build a resilient North American supply chain As it expands operations in North America, Volkswagen Group is intensifying its collaboration strategy, both internally between departments and with its logistics providers. By doing so it is finding greater sustainable intermodal efficiencies on the inbound delivery of parts. Marcus Williams
FVL capacity constraints likely to remain across North America Expert panellists at Automotive Logistics & Supply Chain Global 2023 explained current FVL capacity woes, mitigation strategies and why the issue will not be resolved any time soon. Daniel Harrison analyses how the FVL industry can work together to implement short-term solutions now, and begin planning for the future. Daniel Harrison
Mitsubishi expands service parts warehouse in Canada Mitsubishi has expanded its parts distribution centre (PDC) in Mississauga, eastern Canada, to 15,200 sq.m in response to demand from its growing number of dealerships across the country. Marcus Williams
Umicore deal strengthens BMW’s localised battery supply chain Battery cell maker AESC has signed a deal with Umicore for the supply of cathode active battery materials in North America. AESC will in turn be supplying battery cells to BMW and the deal with Umicore furthers the carmaker’s effort to regionalise its battery supply chain. Marcus Williams
Vinfast delivers first EV exports to Canada Vietnamese electric vehicle (EV) maker Vinfast has delivered its first shipment of 781 VF8 electric SUVs to Nanaimo port, British Columbia, Canada. Megan Kelly
Volkswagen’s PowerCo to invest €4.8 billion in Canadian gigafactory Volkswagen Group’s PowerCo battery division has revealed further details of its planned gigafactory in Canada, which it announced last month would be located in St Thomas, Ontario. It is the first battery cell facility PowerCo has announced in North America and is due to start production in 2027. Marcus Williams
Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern complete merger North American rail freight providers Canadian Pacific (CP) and Kansas City Southern (KCS) have completed the merger they first announced in September 2021. Marcus Williams
Mazda begins exports of CX-50 from US to Mexico Mazda has started exporting its CX-50 crossover to Mexico from the US joint venture plant it runs with Toyota in Huntsville, Alabama. Marcus Williams
VW Group’s PowerCo to build battery gigafactory in Canada VW Group’s lithium battery division, PowerCo, has announced plans to build a gigafactory in the province of Ontario. The battery cell facility, located in St Thomas, will be PowerCo’s first in North America, with production expected to begin in 2027. Christopher Ludwig Marcus Williams
GM plans to supply Ultium Drive units from Ontario GM is planning to turn its St Catherines engine plant in Ontario, Canada into a facility producing Ultium Drive units for its electric vehicles (EVs). The carmaker said it plans to manufacture more than 400,000 EV drive units a year at the plant. Marcus Williams
LG Chem secures lithium supply in North America with Piedmont deal LG Chem has signed an agreement with American mining company Piedmont Lithium for the supply of spodumene concentrate, which is used to extract lithium. Marcus Williams
GM aims to secure lithium supply with record mining investment In an effort to secure its own battery supply chain, GM has agreed to invest with mining company Lithium Americas in the development of the Thacker Pass mine in Nevada, reportedly the largest known source of lithium in the US. Marcus Williams
VW and PowerCo build on battery plans in Canada Volkswagen Group and its PowerCo battery division, which was set up in July this year, are looking for locations in Canada to build a lithium-ion battery gigafactory. Marcus Williams
Trucker protest hits automotive shipments on US-Canada border Last week’s driver protests on the US-Canadian border caused disruption to the movement of automotive parts and finished vehicles. As a consequence, some assembly plants in Canada and the US had to temporarily shutdown lines. Marcus Williams
Canada joins Mexico in trade spat with US over auto content Canada has joined Mexico in a complaint over how the US has chosen to interpret the automotive rules of origin policy that forms part of the US-Mexico-Canada trade agreement (USMCA), signed in July 2020. Marcus Williams
Jaguar Land Rover expands business with Unipart Logistics Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has signed a three-year contract Unipart Logistics for the provision of customer services in the aftermarket across the US and Canada. Marcus Williams
A more reliable rail network for North America The merger of Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern will create the first truly integrated single-line North American Class 1 rail network, which bodes well for the automotive industry on the continent, according to KCS president and CEO, Patrick Ottensmeyer Marcus Williams
Flooding knocks out rail and road links to port of Vancouver All rail services in and out of the Canadian port of Vancouver have been halted because of damage caused by the torrential rain and flooding that hit the province of British Columbia last week. There has also been extensive damage to highways in the southern part of the province. Marcus Williams
North American vehicle ports: versatile through the year of the virus The disruption caused to the finished vehicle sector by the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 tested the flexibility and resourcefulness of the leading vehicle handling ports in North America. The lessons learned have been useful in facing the challenges of thrown up in the last six months, writes Marcus Williams Marcus Williams
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, featuring an overview of the top performing vehicle handling ports in North America, a special focus on the terminal operator Amports and an in-depth look at developments at the Mexican port of Mazatlán. Automotive Logistics
VW to deploy more LNG vessels for North Atlantic car shipments Volkswagen has ordered four car-carrying vessels with dual-fuel engines that can be run on liquified natural gas (LNG), the latest effort by the carmaker to make its shipment of finished vehicles between Germany and North America more sustainable. The LNG vessels will help cut carbon emissions on the route by 25%, it said. Marcus Williams
Cross the plains and rugged mountains Canadian Pacific has a network stretching across Canada and into the US, and its significant and continued investment in services for vehicle making customers is expected to bring a fast recovery from last year’s disruption, writes Marcus Williams Marcus Williams
GM focuses on increasing vehicle deliveries in North America GM has said it is taking steps to increase vehicle deliveries to dealers and customers in the US and Canada to make up for the shortfall in production caused by current semiconductor supply chain disruption and the strong rebound in demand for its products in North America. Marcus Williams
Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern railways look to merge networks Canadian Pacific Railway has made an offer for Kansas City Southern (KCS) railway worth $29 billion in a move that will create the first rail freight network connecting Canada, the US and Mexico. Marcus Williams
Pandemic gives finished vehicle logistics a fresh perspective According to speakers at the Automotive Logistics and Supply Chain North America Live conference there was a silver lining to the disruption inflicted on the automotive industry by the coronavirus pandemic: it allowed companies to look at things afresh and identify where existing problems in the outbound supply chain lay hidden by day-to-day activity. Marcus Williams
Porsche turns to ICL for better visibility on vehicle deliveries The continuing need for accurate tracking of vehicles in the outbound supply chain became more of a critical issue last year as assembly plants ramped up production after the Covid shutdowns. Demand for new cars remained strong throughout the crisis, which shrank available inventory 32%, from 3.8m to 2.6m when plants were shut or operating on restricted schedules and according to new safety protocols. Marcus Williams
North American vehicle makers steer a course through Covid This year’s Automotive Logistics and Supply Chain North America Live conference revealed how a strong rebound in North American vehicle sales has taken the supply chain by surprise and exacerbated the misalignment in inbound supply and capacity caused by the Covid-19 shutdowns. Marcus Williams
USMCA: The milk in the coconut of North American trade The renegotiated rules on free trade in North America, known as USMCA, have been in effect six months but are coming under stricter enforcement. Trade experts from Toyota and Canada’s automotive supplier association point to risks around compliance and a lack of clarity in some rules, especially around ’alternative staging regimes’ on localisation – with the risk that some suppliers could lose significant business. Marcus Williams
Watch: Welcome to the future of North American automotive supply chains Kicking off the on-demand content for Automotive Logistics and Supply Chain North America Live, our hosts set out the trends impacting the industry today and how they will reshape processes, service and partnerships.
Watch: A surprisingly bright outlook for North American vehicle sales and production Despite the pandemic and supply chain disruptions, IHS-Markit is forecasting a stronger-than-anticipated rebound for the North American automotive sector, however there are many headwinds, including for production and exports out of Mexico.
Watch: The race to build a North American lithium-ion battery supply chain Investing in regional battery supply will be critical for OEMs in North America to compete on electric vehicles, but can battery cell capacity keep up? Analyst Daniel Harrison details the evolving battery production footprint in the region.
Watch: North America automotive suppliers must keep up with USMCA and changing trade policy Policy experts from Toyota and Canada’s automotive supplier association unpick complex sourcing and compliance rules under USMCA, and look ahead to what the Biden administration could mean for automotive trade.
Watch: North American automotive recovery is underway, but for how long? The North American automotive market is on pace to return to growth this year despite slow vaccine roll-outs, however there are risks in the supply chain and the longer-term economic outlook, according to Eaton’s top automotive analyst, Brandon Mason.
Watch: Canada’s Silicon Valley of the North Leaders from Magna, Toyota and LeddarTech discuss how Canada’s supply chain can realise its potential for innovation as the Silicon Valley of the North, thanks to the local expertise and electric vehicle initiatives like Project Arrow.
Watch Think Tank: Starting up electric vehicle supply chains With new OEMs like Lucid about to launch electric vehicle production, supply chain experts from OEMs, suppliers, tech players and logistics companies discuss the investment, data and technology opportunities – and difficulties – that come with starting up new EV and battery supply chains.
Watch: That’s a wrap (until next time)! At the end of a two-day journey across the supply chain in the US, Canada and Mexico, our hosts share the most urgent action points and takeaways from the event, including how logistics providers can help manufacturers recover and transform.
Watch: Livestream Hour Season Finale | Part 2: Update from North America with Honda and Benteler Don’t miss the last Livestream Hour episode this season as our guests provide insight on how the coronavirus crisis is currently affecting the supply chain in North America, featuring Hector Martinez from Honda de Mexico and Maxim Serov from global tier 1 Benteler. Wednesday July 29th at 9.30 EST | 14.30 BST | 15.30 CET
Trucking North America: in it for the long haul With a changing model mix and the perennial problem of driver shortages, the US car hauling industry is battling challenges on multiple fronts. But companies are now investing in technology and capacity to future-proof their fleets Victoria Johns
FVL Import Export: 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 Marcus Williams
Market sharing: New rental platform for underused trucks Uber and Airbnb have led the way in the sharing economy, but Ryder has now launched an asset-sharing platform for commercial vehicles Victoria Johns
Electra Meccanica ships Solo from China to North America The Canadian electric vehicle startup has contracted Crane Worldwide to manage its exports from Chongqing to the US and Canada Marcus Williams
Gentry-Stuenkel to lead supply chain at FCA US; Brazeau takes on combined logistics role Chris Ludwig Christopher Ludwig
