US truck tariff to come into effect on November 1, Trump confirms Several truck makers are cautiously assessing the impact of a 25% Section 232 tariff on heavy truck imports that the US is imposing from November 1, but the American Trucking Associations (ATA) has been more direct in its response to the tariffs. Marcus Williams James McLoughlin
Daimler Truck opens Global Parts Center in Halberstadt The carbon-neutral centre will handle 300,000 service parts for distribution to Mercedes-Benz Truck dealers around the world. Marcus Williams
Daimler Truck wins VDA logistics award for use of electric trucks across inbound logistics Daimler Truck took top prize for scaling the use of electrified trucks in inbound logistics for German plants through its ‘Electrify Inbound Logistics’ project. Megan Kelly
Seismic shifts in the global trade of electric vehicles: 2024 in review The car industry is going through a volatile adaptation as it seeks to decarbonise mobility and clean up the logistics supporting production. This year it has also been dealing with trade and labour disruption but the focus is adamantly on a more resilient supply chain and the adoption of digital technology. Marcus Williams
Using data to assess automotive supply chain risk relies on cross-functional coordination and convincing the board Risk and complexity go hand in hand in the automotive supply chain but knowing how to manage the consequences of disruption with accurate data can mean the difference between success and failure, according to speakers from JLR, Daimler Truck and Celonis at this year’s ALSC Digital Strategies Europe conference. Marcus Williams
Daimler Truck is making the Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 at Wörth assembly plant in Germany with inbound parts from Gaggenau, Kassel and Mannheim Daimler Truck is using flexible assembly, inbound electric trucks and clean manufacturing to make the long-haul Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 at its Wörth plant in Germany. Marcus Williams
Daimler Truck North America using eCascadia for service parts deliveries with JB Hunt Daimler Truck North America (DTNA) is using a battery-electric Freightliner Cascadia truck to deliver parts to its own aftermarket operations in Arizona working with its logistics provider JB Hunt Transport. Marcus Williams
BMW, Ford trial 3D printing automotive parts using recycled fishing nets BMW, Ford, Daimler-Benz and other OEMs have been working with UK-based firm Fishy Filaments to trial the use of 3D printing materials made from recycled end-of-life fishing nets. Megan Kelly
Solar power for Daimler Truck’s Halberstadt global PDC Daimler Truck is fitting photovoltaic modules to the roof of the new global parts distribution centre (PDC) it is building in Halberstadt, Germany. Having already covered 30,000 sq.m (12%), the solar panel system will eventually cover 90% of a total roof area around 250,000 sq.m. It is expected to generate more than 20m kWh of electricity per year. Surplus energy will be fed into the grid. Marcus Williams
TVS SCS distributes parts for Daimler Truck from Singapore PDC [UPDATED July 22] Daimler Truck’s division in south-east Asia has signed a five-year contract with TVS Supply Chain Solutions (SCS) to manage its logistics centre in Singapore. The logistics provider is tasked with streamlining the throughput of service parts to Daimler Truck’s distributor network of dealers and workshops across 16 countries in the Asia-Pacific region. Marcus Williams
Muthu Maruthachalam heads operations and logistics at DICV Muthu Maruthachalam C will take over as president and chief of operations and logistics at Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV) in August this year. He replaces chief operating officer Anshum Jain, who left the Daimler Truck subsidiary in April. Marcus Williams
Amplify Cell Technologies starts work on LFP battery cell plant Amplify Cell Technologies has broken ground on a manufacturing plant in Mississippi that will make lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery cells for the commercial vehicle sector. The announcement follows the formation of the joint venture by Cummins’ zero-emission unit Accelera, Daimler Trucks and Buses US, and Paccar. Marcus Williams
Cummins, Daimler Truck and Paccar localise battery supply in US Cummins’ zero-emission unit Accelera has formed a joint venture with Daimler Trucks and Buses US, and Paccar to localise battery cell production and provide a commercial vehicle battery supply chain in the US. Marcus Williams
DHL Freight deploys eActros trucks from Mercedes-Benz DHL Freight is using eActros 300 electric trucks (etrucks) at two sites in Germany. One is being used for parts transport from the logistics provider’s Hagen site to the Mercedes-Benz Trucks axle production plant in Kassel. The other is being used to make retail customer deliveries in Koblenz. They are the first fully electric heavy tractor-trailers DHL Freight has introduced in Germany. Marcus Williams
Mercedes-Benz Group cuts ties with Kamaz in Russia Mercedes-Benz Group has sold its remaining 15% stake in Russian commercial vehicle maker Kamaz. A spokesperson for the carmaker said that the necessary regulatory approvals had been granted and contractual agreements implemented. Marcus Williams
Mercedes-Benz Trucks electrifies fleet for inbound deliveries to Wörth plant Mercedes-Benz Trucks has delivered 12 battery-electric trucks to its logistics providers, the first of 20 eActros 300s for use in inbound logistics. The first 12 trucks will be used for just-in-time delivery of parts to the Wörth plant in Germany from the first quarter of 2024 and together they will make around 50 journeys a day. Marcus Williams
Mercedes-Benz Trucks lays foundation stone for global service parts centre in Germany Mercedes-Benz Trucks has officially started construction on its global parts centre in Halberstadt, Germany, the biggest logistics project in the company’s history. Operations are due to begin at the centre in 2026 across 260,000 sq.m of logistics space. Marcus Williams
Greater collaboration is needed for the switch to a specialised EV supply chain The transition to electric vehicles (EVs) is introducing an entirely new, specialised supply chain for inbound, outbound and service parts logistics. To make the transition successful there needs to be more collaboration and communication between the sectors, according speakers at this year’s Automotive Logistics and Supply Chain Global conference in Dearborn, Michigan. Megan Kelly
Taking the smoke out of the chain Vehicle makers are working with logistics providers to make the movement of parts and finished vehicles in Europe more sustainable. Malcolm Ramsay looks at localised battery supply, the use of etrucks and use of more rail Malcolm Ramsay
Kirchholtes takes up procurement and supply chain role at Daimler Truck Carsten Kirchholtes has expanded on his supply chain role at Daimler Truck North America (DTNA) to include procurement Marcus Williams
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is a long-term risk for the automotive supply chain The impacts stretch beyond inflation and corporate retreats to critical shortages upstream for semiconductor and EV supply. Daniel Harrison
Daimler separates business into strategic management of cars and trucks At the end of this year, Daimler is spinning off its commercial vehicles business into a separately listed and fully independent company called Daimler Truck Holding. The company is also renaming Daimler AG as Mercedes-Benz Group in the first quarter of 2022, emphasising its focus on cars and vans in the luxury and premium segments. The company is calling the reorganisation Project Focus. Marcus Williams
Mitsubishi Fuso focuses on cleaner logistics to cut carbon from operations Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus (MFTBC) has revealed the latest efforts to cut carbon emissions from its plants and supporting logistics functions. Marcus Williams
Data and the digitisation of the supply chain The automotive industry is being transformed by new vehicle technology, but operational processes are also undergoing profound changes driven by unprecedented levels of data Marcus Williams
Blockchain: Potential unlocked? Vehicle-makers, tier supplies and logistics providers are progressing with ‘digital ledger’ technology that provides greater visibility and control over complex supply chains Malcolm Wheatley
Smarter about spot loads Logistics technology company Loadsmart promises to automate full truckload shipments to the benefit of both shippers and carriers Joanne Perry
