Toyota uses VDL Groep hydrogen fuel cell trucks for Europe parts distribution The OEM is using the trucks for distribution between its European parts centre in Belgium and locations in France, Germany and the Netherlands. Marcus Williams
Neptune Group to open first vehicle terminal in Port-La-Nouvelle Neptune Land Services will start operations from Q1 2026 at a new terminal able to process 200,000 vehicles annually. Marcus Williams
Ceva Logistics using Stradot conveyor robots for vehicle handling at Nanteuil-le-Haudouin facility Ceva Logistics will start using automated robot conveyors to move vehicles at its distribution yard in Nanteuil-le-Haudouin from September this year. Marcus Williams
Renault Group makes service parts logistics more efficient with Exotec Renault Group is using the latest automation technology at its Villeroy service parts distribution centre (PDC) in France. The carmaker said that the use of Skypod robots means the facility has increased the number of orders served by 25% per day, cut preparation time from two hours to 20 minutes and enabled it to reduce the storage surface area because the robots can pick items from height without risk to personnel. Marcus Williams
ACC halts construction of two European gigafactories Automotive Cells Company (ACC), with its shareholders Stellantis, Mercedes-Benz and TotalEnergies’ subsidiary Saft, has halted the construction of two of its three planned European gigafactories. Megan Kelly
Renault, Volvo and CMA CGM launch Flexis joint venture Renault, Volvo and logistics provider CMA CGM, have officially launched their electric van joint venture – Flexis SAS. Renault and Volvo each hold 45% stakes and are planning to invest €300m each over the course of the next three years. CMA CGM said it will invest €120m ($130m) by 2026 and has already acquired a 10% stake in the business. Marcus Williams
Ceva Logistics to set up vehicle-handling terminal at Dunkirk port Ceva Logistics is building a 9.5-hectare vehicle logistics facility at the French port of Dunkirk following an agreement signed with the port on March 15. Work on the facility will begin in October this year. Marcus Williams
Revamping supply chains: Carmakers’ shift to local sourcing for EV efficiency Carmakers in Europe, including Mercedes-Benz and Stellantis, are reshaping their logistics by localising supply chains. This strategic move aims to enhance efficiency, cut costs, and reduce emissions, marking a significant step towards sustainable electric vehicle production. Megan Kelly
Renault Trucks to build sustainable parts distribution centre near Lyon Renault Trucks has revealed plans for a new global spare parts distribution centre (PDC) at its Saint-Priest complex near Lyon in France. The truck maker is investing €132m ($142.2m) in the 46,000 sq.m facility, which will operate on renewable, fossil-free energy. Marcus Williams
ACC raises €4.4 billion for three gigafactories in Europe Automotive Cells Company (ACC), with its shareholders Stellantis, Mercedes-Benz and Saft, a subsidiary of TotalEnergies, has raised €4.4 billion ($4.7 billion) in debt funding for the construction of three gigafactories in Europe. Megan Kelly
Renault, Michelin renew supply chain research chairmanship with Paris university Renault Group and Michelin have partnered with École des Ponts ParisTech, school of science, engineering and technology, to renew the Supply Chain of the Future teaching and research chair at the French University. Megan Kelly
Renault Group partners with École des Ponts ParisTech for AI and supply chain digitalisation Renault Group’s supply chain division has partnered with École des Ponts ParisTech, school of science, engineering and technology, to explore the future of AI optimisation in the supply chain. Megan Kelly
Stellantis France appoints head of ‘Car Flow’ logistics division Stellantis France has appointed François Leclercq as head of its Car Flow division, overseeing logistics, procurement and planning. Megan Kelly
ACC opens gigafactory in France, first of a “colossal project” Automotive Cells Company (ACC) has officially opened the first of three planned European battery gigafactories in Billy-Berclau, Douvrin, France. Megan Kelly
Renault plugs car making into the industrial metaverse Renault’s digitalisation of manufacturing and logistics processes has grown into what it describes as an ‘industrial metaverse’, bringing greater transparency and efficiency to the thousands of steps needed to supply parts and actually make a vehicle. Peter Murphy
Stellantis still looking for outbound transport capacity in France Stellantis is facing outbound logistics problems from its plant in Sochaux, France because of a shortage in transport capacity. The situation has led to a build-up of vehicles at the plant, which makes the Peugeot 3008 and 5008. Marcus Williams
The Future Is Neutral seeks to create a totally circular automotive supply chain The Future Is Neutral is a newly-formed entity separate to but invested in by the Renault Group and partners, aiming to completely recycle every element of vehicles. Working directly on recycling using current technologies, it will also research new methods to grow a €2.3 billion ($2.26m) cumulative turnover. Hazel Southwell
Toyota makes major shift to rail for vehicle moves in Europe Toyota has started exporting vehicles made at its Burnaston plant in the UK to Europe on rail via the Channel Tunnel. It is also importing vehicles produced at the Valenciennes plant in France to the UK along the same route. Marcus Williams
Gefco testing Stan autonomous robots for vehicle storage operations Logistics provider Gefco is testing an autonomous robot to park finished vehicles at its vehicle distribution compound in Nanteuil-le-Haudouin, France. Jason Dunn
Tramosa using robots for vehicle yard management Stanley Robotics is supplying Tramosa with mobile robots for the movement of vehicles at its outbound logistics compound in Creutzwald, France. Tramosa, which is the French subsidiary of Spanish logistics provider Tradisa, is aiming to deploy the robots at its other compounds in Europe following this first trial. Marcus Williams
Haropa completes merger of Le Havre, Rouen and Paris ports The ports of Le Havre, Rouen and Paris, which had been working together since 2012 under the banner of Haropa Port, have officially merged from June and have announced infrastructure investments. Illya Verpraet
Marvin Cooke to oversee production and logistics at Toyota Motor Europe Marvin Cooke has moved to become executive vice president of manufacturing at Toyota Motor Europe (TME). He will oversee the operations of all Toyota plants across Europe, overseeing the Toyota Production System, including logistics, production control and production engineering. Marcus Williams
France and other EU countries close border with UK putting freight flows at risk A number of countries, including France, have closed their borders with the UK to passengers and accompanied freight following the discovery of a new strain of coronavirus in the UK which is suspected to be more infectious than previous types. Illya Verpraet
Stronger connections for a competitive future Haropa ports, which runs the Seine Axis ports of Le Havre, Rouen and Paris, is meeting storage capacity constraints with investment, redevelopment and the application of smart technology Marcus Williams
Brexit uncertainty causing concern for automotive With a reliance on just-in-time and just-in-sequence supply chains, the automotive industry is one of the most vulnerable sectors to disruption caused by a disorderly British exit from the EU Steve Garnsey
Hanging in the balance Lower production output, slower growth in export markets and several regulatory and operational issues are threatening to unbalance Poland’s finished vehicle market Vladislav Vorotnikov
