Carmakers working with robot suppliers to test flexible humanoids for lineside logistics operations Carmakers are bringing humanoids onto the factory floor and using the latest software to help them function and learn in complex lineside environments. Marcus Williams
Stellantis, GKN Automotive partner with logistics providers to mitigate disruption At Automotive Logistics & Supply Chain Global, logistics leaders from Stellantis and GKN Automotive shared they are partnering with providers and suppliers to de-risk the supply chain. Megan Kelly
AI, logistics automation will play central role in reducing Stellantis manufacturing costs At its Factory Booster Day, chief manufacturing officer Arnaud Deboeuf and process engineering lead Jean-Christophe Marchal reveal AI projects with partners for digital twins and retrofitting equipment, including for plant logistics. Christopher Ludwig
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
Nissan uses electric semi-trailers for vehicle deliveries to US As it imports vehicles, including the Nissan Ariya EV, to the US through the port of Los Angeles, Nissan North America is testing the use of Class 8 electric semi-trailers (etrucks) for onward delivery to dealers in California. 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
Bonus: Logistics start-up pitches Hear from logistics start-ups in blockchain and packaging as they pitch their business plans in a 4-slide/4-questions format with the chance of becoming the next automotive logistics unicorn…
Watch: Finished vehicle logistics – delivering vehicles with better data Watch this dedicated finished vehicle logistics session from ALSC Europe 2022 in which experts from leading software firms discuss the digital technology that is helping carmakers get their vehicles to market more efficiently and sustainably
Charge the new era of automotive supply chains Executives from Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association (APMA) of Canada, SEA Electric and DSV discuss how electrification and digitalisation are changing supply chain requirements, including new partnerships, innovations and technologies to future proof growth and ensure efficiency.
Audi recycling packaging to make 3D assembly tools at Neckarsulm Audi is recycling the plastic packaging used to deliver sensitive components to its Neckarsulm assembly plant in Germany and using it to produce 3D-printed tools for vehicle production. Marcus Williams
Material shortages are forcing a supply chain rethink in automotive Widespread shortages in range of materials used to make cars are impacting production but OEMs and suppliers are responding by accelerating the development of alternative closed-loop supply chains Namrita Chow
Ineos finalises supply for Hambach takeover Ineos Automotive has officially taken over operations of the Daimler plant in Hambach, France, after completing the purchase of the facility in December last year. It will start building the firm’s Grenadier off-roader in 2021, as well as continue to build the Smart EQ Fortwo until the end of its model cycle Illya Verpraet
Watch: Sustainable packaging – unwrapping a greener automotive supply chain (EP.2) This Automotive Logistics Livestream Hour episode focuses on efficiency and sustainability in automotive packaging, featuring packaging experts John Ferry from EV startup Lucid Motors and packaging consultant Rodney Salmon
Magna to build Fisker Ocean electric vehicle in Europe Magna International is going to build Fisker’s forthcoming Ocean SUV under contract at its manufacturing facility in Graz, Austria. Production of the electric vehicle (EV) will begin in the fourth quarter of 2022. Marcus Williams
EV start-up Arrival to build microfactory in South Carolina Arrival, the start-up that plans to build electric commercial vehicles in what it calls ‘microfactories’, has announced its first US production location in York County, South Carolina. It has also raised $118m from funds managed by BlackRock. Illya Verpraet
Watch: Launching start-up automotive supply chains As new entrants, tech firms and EV start-up companies jump into the supply chain, this panel at Automotive Logistics and Supply Chain Live explored the logistics requirements with insight from startups Rivian and Ineos Automotive, and supply chain specialist Kuehne + Nagel.
Watch: A brand new Element at commercial EV startup Arrival Tracey Yi, who is leading Arrival’s new component and procurement division, Elements, talks to Christopher Ludwig about the electric bus manufacturer’s unique supply chain and manufacturing localisation strategy.
Watch: Building Lucid’s electric vehicle logistics network Electric vehicle startup Lucid is launching its first production model with support from Glovis America in finished vehicle logistics. Head of logistics Greg Henninger shares details together with partners from Glovis on the unique challenge for EV outbound logistics.
Watch: Believe the hype! What Hyperloop technology means for the (near) future of logistics Hyperloop technology sounds futuristics but Hyperloop TT is already implementing a number of projects in logistics, including infrastructure in Dubai to port operations at the port of Hamburg. Chief strategy officer Juan Quintana details the company’s plans at Automotive Logistics and Supply Chain Live.
Rivian outlines sustainable packaging initiative Electric vehicle start-up Rivian has revealed details of a plastic recycling initiative that aims by 2024 to collect 500,000kg (1.1m lbs) of single-use plastic annually and stop it from floating out to sea. Rivian will instead turn it into the containers it uses to move parts inbound to its production line. Marcus Williams
Fully automated microfactories mean more resilient manufacturing says Arrival Electric commercial vehicle maker Arrival could have as many as 1,000 automated microfactories operating by 2026, with the first now under construction. Localised supply is a priority and the manufacturing and logistics will be supported by industry 4.0 technology Illya Verpraet
Watch: Livestream Hour Episode 13 – Start-up OEM supply chains with INEOS Automotive Watch this discussion to hear key insights and ask questions to our special guest panel including INEOS Automotive’s head of supply chain management, Marko Weisshaar
Land of opportunity: INEOS Automotive British company INEOS Automotive’s Grenadier is being developed as a resolute 4x4 from the ground up, but can the start-up’s lack of legacy and supply chain history cover new terrain and open up options for logistics? Victoria Johns
Watch: Livestream Hour Episode 10 – How Volkswagen is transforming plant logistics with AI, analytics and cloud technology In this episode of the Livestream Hour, we discuss the technology and processes that are accelerating more connected, data-driven supply chains, and the greater role they will play in the post-coronavirus automotive industry. With special guests from Volkswagen, research institute Fraunhofer ISST and tech startup SYNAOS.
Is Sony’s Vision S a scary sight, or a revelation for carmakers and suppliers? Should automotive manufacturers and the supply chain fear or embrace this surprise announcement from the consumer technology giant? Daniel Harrison
Oh so simple? US start-up confident of delivering autonomous trucks Much self-driving technology has focused on passenger cars, but it is being applied to commercial vehicles too. Here’s why TuSimple believes it can solve the key challenges Abigail Williams
What took the air out of Dyson’s electric car project? The iconic manufacturer of vacuum cleaners has cancelled plans to develop and build an EV. That was probably a smart decision, considering the huge costs, competition and struggling market that Dyson would have been entering. Daniel Harrison
Harmonising the supply chain As supply chains grow more complex, automotive companies need a reliable way to keep track of parts movements and alert them to any delays. Andrew Williams investigates a ‘visibility platform’ from German start-up Synfioo Abigail Williams
Used but not confused: How battery diagnostics can help EV resales Resales of EVs are currently complicated by lack of clarity on the health of their batteries. Austrian start-up Aviloo has developed a diagnostic tool that can be used at dealerships Karen McCandless
Wood you believe it? Materials handling with a difference A new company based in Chemnitz is seeking to overturn conventional wisdom when it comes to material handling equipment – by using wood as a construction material Mike Farish
Steering the future using AI German start-up Kopernikus has developed self-driving technology that can be used to move vehicles inside production facilities and workshops, and potentially even at ports Victoria Johns
Why all eyes are on Israel for AI In the race to perfect autonomous driving, Israel has proven to be a hotspot of technological innovation – driven, in part, by its military expertise and surveillance tools Jonathan Ward
Smarter about spot loads Logistics technology company Loadsmart promises to automate full truckload shipments to the benefit of both shippers and carriers Joanne Perry
Audi’s logistics part 2: Pursuing practical progression There is little question that finished vehicle logistics has been among the least automated segments of the overall automotive production and supply chain process. From loading and unloading vehicles to and from trucks, ships and rail wagons to inspection and parking, as well as scanning vehicles into inventory and tracking systems, outbound logistics has remained, by and large, a manual, labour-intensive operation Christopher Ludwig
Production & logistics part 4: Logistics organisations and skills How has your company’s supply chain and logistics management organisation changed over the past 20 years? Christopher Ludwig
Volkswagen Group part 2: Talking ‘then and now’ with head of group logistics, Thomas Zernechel The group’s head of group logistics talks about the major changes seen over the past two decades – and why he is optimistic about the future of logistics Christopher Ludwig
JLR part 1: Ensuring logistics is not a victim of success With so much expansion, change and inevitable risk still ahead of the carmaker, JLR’s director of global material planning and logistics, David Dyke, is pushing his department’s influence across the company and the supply chain to gain efficiency and further strength Christopher Ludwig
