Ford will return to engine production in Chennai for export markets Ford is investing $370m to revamp its Chennai powertrain plant in India for the production of a new generation of engines that it will export overseas. Marcus Williams
US implements 50% tariffs on India The US administration has implemented tariffs of 50% on goods imported to the country from India, effective immediately. Megan Kelly
Renault fully acquires Chennai plant from partner Nissan Renault’s full acquisition of the Chennai plant reinforces the company’s international growth strategy – expanding local production, strengthening supplier ties and boosting exports from India. Charlie Blackie-Kelly Emily Uwemedimo
Jaguar Land Rover appoints Tata Motors CFO PB Balaji as new CEO Balaji will become the first Indian CEO of Jaguar Land Rover, succeeding Adrian Mardell in November 2025.
An updated outlook for the UK auto industry at the International Automotive Summit 2025 Experts from Stellantis, Volvo Cars, JLR and more discussed key trends at the SMMT’s International Automotive Summit, including tariffs and trade deals, sustainability and electrification, and the UK’s new Industrial Strategy. Charlie Blackie-Kelly
Maruti Suzuki moves half a million vehicles on Indian Railways network in last year Maruti Suzuki has moved more than 500,000 finished vehicles by rail in the last financial year, almost a quarter of its total 2024 outbound volumes. Marcus Williams
Nissan has a partnership with scenario planning provider Anaplan to digitalise business optimisation in Africa, Middle East, India, Europe and Oceania Nissan’s has set up a strategic partnership with Anaplan to digitalise the vehicle flow process from production to sales Marcus Williams
Parag Sharma heads supply chain and procurement at Stellantis IAP Stellantis has appointed Parag Sharma as its head of global purchasing and supply chain for India and Asia Pacific (IAP). Parag moves from Daimler Truck in India, where he was most recently associate vice-president for purchasing and supply chain, and head of supply chain management. Marcus Williams
APM Terminals boosts vehicle throughput at Pipavav APM Terminals has recorded almost 4,000 vehicles processed through the Indian port of Pipavav for the month of May, and the highest number of rail wagons handled at the port in a single month. The terminal processed 40 newly modified goods (NMG) rakes, up on its previous record of 30 in March this year. Marcus Williams
Maruti Suzuki exporting Fronx SUV to Japan Maruti Suzuki India has started exporting its Fronx SUV to Japan – the first SUV the vehicle maker has launched in the country. Maruti Suzuki also exports the Baleno sedan, which it started doing in 2016. Marcus Williams
JCB chooses TVS Supply Chain Solutions for in-plant logistics at Vadodara Equipment maker JCB has signed a three-year contract with TVS Supply Chain Solutions (SCS) to manage in-plant warehousing at its Vadodara facility in the Indian state of Gujurat. The logistics provider already provides service parts warehousing for JCB in Bhaproda, Haryana state. 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
Maruti Suzuki increases vehicle moves by rail in India India’s biggest carmaker Maruti Suzuki has increased the volume of vehicles moved by rail across the country by more than 580% over the last ten years and has surpassed 2m vehicle moves in total to date. Marcus Williams
Mahindra Logistics signs joint venture with Seino in India Japanese logistics provider Seino Holdings is entering a 50:50 joint venture with Mahindra Logistics in India to provide Japanese automotive customers with logistics services for finished vehicles, and parts warehousing and transport. Marcus Williams
Honda begins vehicle exports from India to Japan Honda is now exporting its Elevate mid-size SUV from India to Japan via the port of Pipavav. The Elevate went on sale in Japan badged with the brand name WR-V last month and so far around 6,800 models have been delivered. It is the first time Honda has exported a model made in India to Japan. Marcus Williams
Škoda begins exports from Europe to Vietnam Škoda has begun exporting its Kodiaq and Karoq models from the Czech Republic to Vietnam and has opened its first dealership in Hanoi. Megan Kelly
Škoda opens CKD logistics hub in India [Updated October 30] Škoda Auto has a new 16,000 sq.m facility in Pune, India that it will use to pack complete knockdown (CKD) kits of its Kushaq and Slavia models for export to Vietnam. There, the CKD kits will be welded, painted and assembled at a production line currently being built in Quãng Ninh province and expected to open in the first half of 2024. Marcus Williams
JCB signs up Maersk and Unipart Logistics for parts handling JCB has signed two major contracts with logistics providers Maersk and Unipart Logistics for global parts management. Marcus Williams
Schaeffler India opens parts CDC in Hosur Schaeffler’s division in India has opened a parts consolidation and distribution centre (CDC) in Hosur, in the southern state of Tamil Nadu. Marcus Williams
Ford looks at India as export production hub for EVs Ford has indicated it could salvage manufacturing in India by focusing on electric vehicles (EVs) for export markets. Marcus Williams
Ford to end car production in India after decade of loss Ford has confirmed it is ending vehicle production at its plants in India after a decade of poor market penetration and losses totalling around $2 billion. Marcus Williams
Executive changes at Renault Nissan Mitsubishi Alliance The Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi (RNM) Alliance has announced top executive changes within its purchasing and operations functions. Marcus Williams
Watch: India supply chain insights and automotive market forecast The Indian automotive industry is facing a significant economic crisis as the country faces the coronavirus crisis. In a presentation at Automotive Logistics and Supply Chain Live, Puneet Gupta from IHS Markit Automotive shares insights into the demand patterns, production outlook and government measures that will impact the Indian automotive supply chain over the next decade.
Watch: Increasing automotive logistics automation Manufacturers are looking for opportunities to automate more logistics processes and operations, with significant opportunities to be found in packaging equipment. In this panel from Automotive Logistics and Supply Chain Live, hear how Ford India and Macro Plastics are exploring new systems and equipment.
Watch: Spotlight on the Indian supply chain Watch this panel discussion from Automotive Logistics and Supply Chain Live on key challenges from the crisis, digitalisation developments and opportunities for the automotive supply chain in India featuring logistics experts from FCA, JCB and Smart Links Technology.
Watch: How Ford digitalised and insourced global supply chain processes | Your Questions Answered Part II with Amlan Bose Ford is transforming its supply chain and logistics processes in a number of key regions, including creating an in-house 4PL and rolling out a dynamic transport management system. Following discussion on our popular Livestream Hour edition focused on digitalisation in supply chain and logistics, Ford’s Amlan Bose rejoins Christopher Ludwig to address audience questions on topics including challenges to rollout, whether the system and insourcing will spread to other regions, and how digital control towers are helping Ford in the Covid-19 crisis.
Watch: Livestream Hour Episode 3 – India Automotive Supply Chain in Focus In Episode 3, in collaboration with The Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA), we explore the global export, supply chain and logistics challenges and opportunities in India with a special guest panel that include Meritor, Sona Comstar, TCI and others. The Livestream Hour features intelligence and updates on important automotive value chain developments, Covid-19-related topics and best practice featuring special guests and experts, as well as behind-the-headlines INSIGHT from our editors and analysts.
A rake’s progress in India: How one 3PL is growing rail services for finished vehicles APLL Vascor started providing dedicated finished vehicle rail transport in India in 2014. On its fifth anniversary, the company talks to Automotive Logistics about the journey so far – and how the country’s regulatory climate is increasingly supportive of rail transport Marcus Williams
Containerisation: Why finished vehicle logistics needs to think inside the box While ro-ro is the traditional method of shipping finished vehicles, containerisation is becoming increasingly viable as the automotive industry decentralises and introduces more EVs. Growth in China and South East Asia offers particularly good opportunities Marcus Williams
Renault Nissan Automotive India part 2: Ensuring all brands are ready to go Chris Ludwig Christopher Ludwig
Production & logistics part 2: Questioning the future This article is one of a series of pieces celebrating Automotive Logistics’ 20th anniversary issue that together take an extended look at the way top executives feel automotive production and logistics have changed in the last two decades – and where they see them heading in the future. Christopher Ludwig
Changes are the only certainty at Ford of Europe Dirk Willmann, director of material planning and logistics for Ford Europe, outlines how the carmaker is improving visibility and adapting its vehicle logistics network across Europe to better manage customer demand and trade uncertainties. Christopher Ludwig
Ford of Europe: A system of strength and complexity Dirk Willmann’s 25-year career with Ford has made him witness to the changing arc of the company’s supply chain in Europe and further afield, including more complicated material flows, new locations and footprint changes, as well as advances in technology. Christopher Ludwig
