ILA and USMX sign six-year Master Contract securing wage increases and controls on automation In the latest development in the dispute between the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the US Maritime Alliance (USMX), both parties have reached an agreement on a new six-year master agreement, subject to review and ratification by members on both sides. Megan Kelly Marcus Williams
Ford unexpectedly drops Jack Cooper mid-contract, with Teamsters union urging OEM to reconsider Ford has unexpectedly ended its agreement with North American vehicle hauler Jack Cooper mid-contract. Megan Kelly
The latest insights from Automotive Logistics & Supply Chain Global 2024 Hello everyone and welcome to the Automotive Logistics and Supply Chain Global 2024 recap blog, from our event which took place on 24-26th September at the Henry Hotel in Dearborn, Michigan. Stay tuned to get the latest updates and insights on our conference speakers and the sessions here! Megan Kelly Emily Uwemedimo Marcus Williams
How process-mining in the automotive supply chain drives efficiency The automotive supply chain has been adopting digital technologies to improve visibility, particularly in the finished vehicle logistics (FVL) sector, helping to speed up deliveries and keep costs at a minimum. Megan Kelly
ALSC Mexico 2024 set to return to Mexico City for 10th year More than 550 leading OEMs, logistics providers, supply chain technology specialists and officials will reunite during the event. Automotive Logistics
Canada rail strikes live blog: Authority orders arbitration between Teamsters and rail companies Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) union has appealed against the arbitration that ended the work stoppage at CN and CPKC Megan Kelly Marcus Williams
Maersk: Container volume to rise, Red Sea disruption continues Shipping company AP Møller-Maersk has raised its outlook for the global container market volume growth for the full year, despite supply chain disruption caused by the situation in the Red Sea which is now expected to continue at least until the end of the year. Megan Kelly
Tesla pauses Mexico gigafactory until after US election Tesla has paused its plans to build a new gigafactory in Mexico until after the US presidential election in November, as Donald Trump has pledged to impose a 100% tariff on vehicles made in Mexico. Megan Kelly
Stellantis revenue and profits fall in ‘challenging’ automotive market Stellantis’ revenue and profits have dropped in the first half of the year, with the OEM blaming a “challenging industry context” and a product blitz underway. Meanwhile, its CEO has triggered a “strategic review” of UK business because of the zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate. Megan Kelly
Global IT outage affects ports in US, Europe and Africa The global IT outage that hit industries across the world today has affected ports and airports across the US, Europe, Africa and more, causing problems for the automotive supply chain globally. Megan Kelly
Digital democracy for the automotive supply chain There is a wider demand for and adoption of digital tools and data analytics in supply chain logistics, and with that comes a need for more expertise across the different functions and the placement of core data science teams. Marcus Williams
Automotive Logistics Systems and Software Survey 2024 As the automotive industry faces rising complexity and uncertainty across the inbound supply chain and the delivery of finished vehicles, all stakeholders are keen to accelerate digitalisation and leverage the best systems and software in automotive logistics. Automotive Logistics
ALSC Digital Strategies North America: Recap blog Follow our recap blog below for key highlights and knowledge shared at Automotive Logistics & Supply Chain Digital Strategies North America 2024, which focused on digitalising North America’s end-to-end automotive supply chain. Following the event in Nashville on 26-27 June, we will continue sharing news and features that relate to the speakers and companies involved in the event. Keep following the blog, as we will share videos straight from the main stage and the Red Sofa at the event! Automotive Logistics
Europe imposes tariffs up to 38% on Chinese EV imports The European Commission (EC) has made the decision to impose additional tariffs of up to 38% on Chinese EVs, following preliminary results of its anti-subsidy investigation which found that prices are being distorted by Chinese state support. Megan Kelly
Volkswagen Group’s North America vehicle logistics approach saves cost and delivery time In the last year, Volkswagen Group of America’s finished vehicle logistics teams have united their US, Mexico and Canada divisions, under the umbrella of Anu Goel’s leadership and ’Virtual Task Force’. Now, Goel and the team are seeing results, not only in efficiency and capacity, but in millions of dollars’ worth of working capital and transport savings. Megan Kelly
BMW’s Michael Nikolaides on a localised, digital supply chain Dr Michael Nikolaides, senior vice-president, Production Network, Supply Chain Management and Logistics at BMW Group, talks to Automotive Logistics about making cross-functional decisions to make the OEM’s supply chain more localised, digitalised and efficient Megan Kelly
VW responds to EU imposing up to 38% tariffs on Chinese EVs Volkswagen Group has responded to the European Commission’s (EU) decision to impose additional tariffs of up to 38% on Chinese EVs, following preliminary results of its anti-subsidy investigation which found that prices are being distorted by Chinese state support. Megan Kelly
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
Port of Baltimore fully restored as last bridge debris is removed The port of Baltimore could reopen as early as this weekend as the last piece of steel bridge has been removed from the Fort McHenry Federal Channel, following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in March. Megan Kelly
How to democratise data and enable transparency in FVL Sharing data and knowledge in finished vehicle logistics, and across the wider automotive logistics sector, will be beneficial for OEMs and tier suppliers alike – but despite this, there is still a reluctance to break the industry norms and trust other parties with data and information. At this year’s Finished Vehicle Logistics North America conference, leaders from Ford, Subaru, VW and more spoke about why it’s necessary to break the status quo and democratise data to see effective results. Megan Kelly
Hoerndlein to lead vehicle logistics for Volkswagen Group Logistics; Bronder moves to SAIC JV Volkswagen Group Logistics has appointed Peter Hoerndlein as its new head of vehicle logistics, taking over from Oliver Bronder, who is moving to head up logistics at VW’s largest Chinese joint venture, SAIC-VW in Shanghai. Megan Kelly
Managing long-haul partnerships in FVL Carmakers and logistics providers are redefining partnerships to improve collective competitiveness and foster long-term success. But how is a win-win ensured for both sides? Megan Kelly
Sharing risk drives supplier relations for GM, Stellantis, Honda, Nissan The key driver in improving supplier relations is sharing risk and cost in an equitable way, according to an annual study by Plante Moran. Megan Kelly
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
Canada rail faces strike action The Teamsters Canada union, which represents 9,000 workers at Canada’s two biggest railroads, has threatened strike action that would disrupt North America’s supply chains from as early as May 22. Megan Kelly
Proficient aims to raise $215m by going public Proficient Auto Logistics is aiming to raise $215m from its initial public offering (IPO), according to its newly updated SEC registration statement. Megan Kelly
Ryder opens second US-Mexico border logistics facility in El Paso Transportation and fleet management solutions company Ryder System has announced the opening of a second logistics facility to Mexico logistics routes. Megan Kelly
Stellantis reduces inventory ahead of new product launches Stellantis is reducing inventories and adjusting production ahead of the launch of new and mid-cycle product launches on the STLA platform this year. Megan Kelly
Jack Cooper drops bid for LTL provider Yellow Jack Cooper Transport’s bid for less-than-truckload (LTL) provider Yellow has been dropped eight months after Yellow’s bankruptcy filing. Megan Kelly
Proficient goes public to acquire five logistics firms Proficient Auto Logistics is hoping to raise $100m through an initial public offering (IPO) to acquire five other automotive logistics firms, which would expand its fleet to around 1,130 trailers. Megan Kelly
Baltimore port likely to be closed until May after bridge collapse The Francis Scott Key Bridge at Baltimore port, Maryland, collapsed into the Patapsco River on 26 March after being struck by a cargo ship, setting off an emergency response and a search and rescue effort. Megan Kelly
Fisker reports loss of $762m in 2023, negotiates with OEM over strategic partnership Fisker has reported a net loss of $463.6m in the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2023 and $761.9m for the year, with the carmaker calling it a “challenging year”, in part because of delays with suppliers. The OEM announced in the filings that it will cut its workforce by 15% and streamline operations. Megan Kelly
Stellantis plans to take more control of outbound logistics Stellantis is looking to take more control of its outbound finished vehicle logistics through buying more freight assets. Megan Kelly
Maxime Picat, Stellantis talks strategy and influencing supply chain and manufacturing design The chief purchasing and supply chain officer, who leads all procurement functions including logistics, gives an exclusive interview on improving supplier relations, planning for the future of the battery supply chain, the growing influence of supply chain costs and localisation, and why Stellantis needs to ensure it has access to critical logistics capacity. Megan Kelly
GM, Tesla, BYD, Toyota & VW at risk of forced labour in Chinese aluminium supply chains Global carmakers including GM, Tesla, BYD, Toyota and Volkswagen are failing to minimise the risk of Uyghur forced labour being used in aluminium sourcing. Megan Kelly
VW Group looks for partnerships to build a resilient North American supply chain As it expands operations in North America, Volkswagen Group is intensifying its collaboration strategy, both internally between departments and with its logistics providers. By doing so it is finding greater sustainable intermodal efficiencies on the inbound delivery of parts. Marcus Williams
Renee Wawrzynski replaces Edgard Pezzo as GM’s head of global logistics Renee Wawrzynski will take over General Motors’ top logistics job as the OEM invests in supply chain visibility and resilience. Edgard Pezzo, who helped to oversee greater systems standardisation and supply chain collaboration, retired in November. Christopher Ludwig
A logistics facility full of innovation at BMW Spartanburg BMW has recently opened a $100m logistics centre next to its US assembly plant in Spartanburg. The 93,000 sq.m facility consolidates two offsite locations and is dedicated to logistics for BMW’s X models. Marcus Williams
Volvo Cars tackles material and logistics costs to improve production Higher battery material costs, spot buying of semiconductors and increased logistics costs, incurred through a greater use of premium freight, contributed to a lower operating profit of SEK 3.4 billion ($308m) for Volvo Cars in the third quarter of this year. Marcus Williams
Russia pins hopes on electric future as carmakers continue exodus Russia is hoping to salvage its automotive sector by pumping billions in investment into electric vehicle (EV) production, rather than trying to rescue production of combustion-engine vehicles at the car plants left redundant by western carmakers who are leaving the country en masse. Automotive Logistics
Tesla willing to work with partners for stable outbound capacity Tesla opened its gigafactory in Berlin, Germany in March this year, right in the middle of an outbound capacity crisis. Earlier this month the company reported that global vehicle deliveries in Q3 were affected by a lack of capacity and that it had become increasingly challenging to secure transport “at a reasonable cost” during peak logistics weeks. Marcus Williams
Shedding the legacy of short-term contracts The critical shortage of capacity for finished vehicle deliveries in Europe is making carmakers reassess their short-term contract arrangements with outbound logistics providers. At this autumn’s annual conference of the Association of European Vehicle Logistics (ECG), Toyota and VW Group said the industry cannot survive without longer-term contracts and closer collaboration to improve outbound visibility. Marcus Williams
