Scania signs three-year deal with Unipart to manage service parts centre in Kunshan, China Unipart is managing logistics operations at Scania’s new Chinese service parts distribution centre in Kunhan, China. Marcus Williams
Accuride’s Skotti Fietsam on increased collaboration between logistics and IT teams Skotti Fietsam, senior vice president, supply chain and CIO at Accuride, sat down on the Red Sofa at ALSC Digital Strategies North America to share her insights into how teams in both fields can collaborate, as well as the importance of digital tools in compliance and supply chain mapping.
Nissan looking at ways to secure UK vehicle production including through Chinese joint venture Nissan is looking at ways to secure production at its Sunderland plant amidst global cuts and that could include joint production with a Chinese EV partner. Marcus Williams
VW Group one of a number of carmakers revising exports of vehicles from Mexico to US Carmakers, including VW Group, are suspending the export of vehicles from Mexico into the US and revising production plans in the face of US tariffs brought in last week by the Trump administration. The German carmaker is also now holding all vehicles delivered after April 3 at US ports of entry. 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
Impact of the new US trade policy includes the potential cumulative effects of ‘tariff stacking’ [Updated April 23] This week’s announcement by the US Trump administration of tariffs on global imports is more wide-ranging that Trump 1.0 and ’tariff stacking’ could mean vehicle makers and parts suppliers face much higher costs. Marcus Williams Megan Kelly
Orbis moves into repurposed plant in Greenville to make reusuable totes and pallets for automotive customers Packaging provider Orbis has opened a 39,000 sq.m production facility in Greenville, Texas to make reusable totes and pallets, incluidng its full range of products for automotive industry Marcus Williams
Stellantis CFO Doug Ostermann tells Wolfe Research summit about supply chain push to deal with tariff uncertainty This week Stellantis’ chief financial officer, Doug Ostermann, outlined the efforts the carmaker was making to mitigate the impact of trade uncertainty in North America and its commitment to manufacturing in the US. Marcus Williams
Port Freeport strengthens automotive logistics with record growth, new infrastructure, and multimodal connections PARTNER CONTENTThis content was produced by Automotive Logistics in partnership with Port FreeportWith soaring vehicle and container volumes, Port Freeport is investing in capacity, multimodal links and nearshoring-driven growth. Automotive Logistics
Toyota is making its own batteries at a plant in North Carolina and will be begin local supply in April Toyota will be begin shipping lithium batteries from its own plant in North Carolina from April this year, beginning with deliveries by truck to its Kentucky assembly plant in Georgetown Marcus Williams
China retaliates against Trump’s auto tariffs with 10% duty on US vehicles and WTO complaint China has responded to US president Donald Trump’s tariffs of 10% on all goods imported from China, in addition to the existing 100% tariffs on Chinese EV and battery imports, with tariffs of its own. Megan Kelly
BYD and other Chinese OEMs accelerate vertical integration with dedicated ro-ro fleets for global vehicle exports Chinese OEM BYD has added a new vessel to its fleet, with the BYD Shenzhen ro-ro car carrier having undocked earlier this month. Megan Kelly
Expert perspectives on nearshoring: Top 10 Red Sofa interviews on supply chain strategy Updated July 2 2025 – The strategy of nearshoring is reshaping supply chains, bringing immense opportunities and challenges to the forefront. We sat down on the Red Sofa with experts leading the trend across the automotive supply chain. Megan Kelly
Polestar widens global production locations to include Europe for electric SUV from 2027 Polestar is looking at Europe to build its next premium compact SUV and will expand sales to France this summer using agency model distribution. Marcus Williams
North American supply chain under Trump: How the IRA pause affects the EV supply chain As Trump halts EV incentives, North America’s EV supply chain faces uncertainty. Automotive Logistics explores the logistics and market implications. Megan Kelly
Global automotive industry shifts intensify challenges for logistics providers The automotive supply chain is facing many hurdles this year, as set out in our key automotive logistics trends for 2025. Here, we look deeper at the fragmented nature of the industry, structural changes in flows and demand, and the effects of job losses in the second part of our series. Daniel Harrison
Trade disputes accelerate nearshoring trend with implications for logistics providers The automotive supply chain is facing many hurdles this year, as set out in our key automotive logistics trends for 2025. Here, we look at the accelerating trend of nearshoring in the first part of our series. Daniel Harrison
Automotive logistics and supply chains in 2025: Challenges, cost pressures & nearshoring As the automotive industry enters 2025, three primary trends are reshaping the landscape for logistics providers. These trends highlight the challenges and opportunities resulting from industry restructuring, cost pressures, and evolving trade dynamics. Before we dive into each, here’s an executive summary. Daniel Harrison
What day one under the Trump administration signals for the North American automotive supply chain Donald Trump, who was sworn in as president of the US yesterday, said that his administration is planning to impose 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada from 1 February, threatening the North American automotive supply chain. Megan Kelly
Associated British Ports to develop Stallingborough finished vehicle facility in Humber region of UK Associated British Ports is developing a vehicle storage and distribution facility near the Humber ports of Grimsby and Immingham in the UK. Marcus Williams
Mazda localising battery supply with Panasonic Energy for electric vehicle production in Japan Panasonic Energy will be supplying Mazda with battery cells for assembly of modules produced locally for a new electric vehicle made in Iwakuni City. Marcus Williams
Volkswagen is investing in digital architecture for competitive and localised battery EV production in China Volkswagen is focusing on a strong localisation drive in China and the development of a digital architecture for faster EV development and production as the market competes aggressively on price. Marcus Williams
Honda and Nissan in talks to form joint holding company; Mitsubishi also looking at involvement The carmakers are also in discussions with Mitsubishi over potential collaboration on standardised products and processes. Marcus Williams
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
German Association of the Automotive Industry has published a new auditing standard for logistics – VDA 6.8 Process Audit Supply Chain The VDA’s Logistics Committee chairman, Simon Motter, who is head of Volkswagen Group Logistics, said the new VDA auditing standard addresses the importance of smooth supply chain processes for the entire automotive industry Marcus Williams
GM’s strategy to tackle EV logistics challenges: Digitalisation, nearshoring, and improving supplier relations Strengthening supplier relationships, nearshoring strategies and digitalisation are enabling GM to enhance supply chain resilience across North America. From securing critical EV components to optimising cross-border logistics, the carmaker is fostering innovation and operational efficiency amid growing challenges. Megan Kelly
Red Sofa interview: Nissan’s Steve Jernigan on network improvements in Mexico At this week’s Finished Vehicle Logistics North America 2024 conference in California, Steve Jernigan, senior director of supply chain management for Nissan North America, took to the Red Sofa to tell Richard Logan, senior content producer, Automotive Logistics about improvements to domestic haulaway performance in Mexico, which includes better equipment utilisation and availability.
Finished Vehicle Logistics North America: Recap blog Follow our recap blog below for key highlights and knowledge shared at Finished Vehicle Logistics North America 2024. We will be sharing news and videos straight from the main stage and the Red Sofa, including insight, data and quotes from the automotive experts who discussed how they are disrupting the status quo, and raising performance through innovation, flexibility and partnerships. Automotive Logistics
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
Red Sofa Interview: VW Truck & Bus Mexico’s plans to increase localisation Halley Vieira, plant manager in Production and Logistics, VW Truck & Bus Mexico discusses the decision to localise in Mexico rather than import parts from Brazil, and how synergies with VW Group and Traton Group are playing an increasingly important role in the plant’s logistics.
Red Sofa Interview: How Bocar is championing Mexican localisation Leonardo Martins, global logistics director at Bocar Group, joins the Red Sofa at Automotive Logistics & Supply Chain Mexico to share how Bocar is championing localisation in Mexico.
Service parts part 3: Aftermarket operations and network 20 years of change in automotive service parts logistics Christopher Ludwig
An aftermarket network rebuilt for rapid response at BMW An interview with Wolfgang Baumann, vice-president of parts logistics management and responsible for the global supply of service parts for the BMW Group Christopher Ludwig
Supply Chain Conference: Service parts get closer to production logistics Chris Ludwig Christopher Ludwig
