BYD delays production in Hungary Chinese OEM BYD has delayed production plans for its Hungary plant until 2026, according to reports. Megan Kelly
VW Group Logistics launches Venice port terminal to optimise exports, reduce emissions and improve resilience across vehicle logistics Volkswagen Group Logistics will expand its port network for finished vehicles of the Volkswagen Group with a terminal at Venice port in Italy, which will reduce lead times for many plants, increase rail transport, and shorten shipping times with Asia. Christopher Ludwig Megan Kelly
Ceva Logistics acquires Turkish logistics company Borusan Tedarik for $440m, doubling its footprint in the region CEVA Logistics continues to grow “bigger, stronger and smarter”, as the company announces it acquires Borusan Tedarik, a logistics company in Turkey. The move almost doubles CEVA’s operations in the country. Charlie Blackie-Kelly
Grimaldi has grown its fleet of hybrid short-sea ro-ro vessels to 14 with the addition of the Eco Napoli Grimaldi’s latest hybrid-power ro-ro vessel will arrive in the Mediterranean from China in May this year and will support services calling between Italy, Greece and Turkey Marcus Williams
Grimaldi is introducing additional liner services and investing in terminal operations around Europe Grimaldi is strengthening services for finished vehicle trade in Europe while at the same time building services for EV imports to there from China. Marcus Williams
Chinese carmaker Chery builds on containerised vehicle shipments to Turkey with DP World service Chery is building the volumes of cars it ships in containers from China to Turkey supported by DP World operations at the Yarímca container terminal. Marcus Williams
BLG expands its logistics services in Turkey BLG Group has set up an independent company in Turkey called BLG Uluslararasi Tasimacilik (BLG International Transport) to provide finished vehicle logistics services and appointed Cem Akgül as managing director, based in Istanbul. Marcus Williams
XPO supports auto supply chain with Benelux-Turkey multimodal service XPO Logistics has launched a 2,600 km multimodal corridor connecting the Belgian port city of Antwerp and Istanbul in Turkey. The logistics provider said the service is designed to support a wide range of industries, including automotive. Marcus Williams
DFDS in agreement to buy Ekol Logistics’ transport network DFDS is in the process of buying the international transport network of Ekol Logistics, which transports goods, including automotive and industrial parts, between Turkey and Europe. The purchase price is €260m ($276m). Marcus Williams
MAN Truck and Bus strengthens spare parts logistics in Salzgitter MAN Truck & Bus is expanding its global service parts logistics centre in Salzgitter, Germany by 52,650 sq.m, taking the total footprint to 230,000 sq.m and bringing capacity for an additional 40,000 parts. Marcus Williams
Chery puts car exports in containers to Turkey with help from DP World In the face of congestion at Turkey’s main finished vehicle handling ports, Chery Automobile has opted to put cars in containers for import through DP World’s Yarímca port terminal. Other Chinese carmakers are expected to follow suit and benefit from services DP World is providing. Marcus Williams
Turkey suspends automotive re-export to Russia On March 8, the Turkish Customs Service suspended transit of western-sanctioned goods to Russia, including finished vehicles and automotive components. Automotive Logistics
A Russian market close to catastrophe With grey imports on the rise and natural disasters adding to the limiting effects of international sanctions, any optimism about re-establishing Russian supply chains may be eclipsed by further harsh realities Automotive Logistics
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
Parts suppliers need to understand rules of origin The new gigafactories being established in the UK do not simplify the future for component manufacturers facing the post-Brexit reality, says Gary Dodsworth, head of road transport at Rhenus UK Gary Dodsworth
Ford to export Transit Custom diesel engines from UK to Turkey Ford has announced its engine plant in Dagenham, UK will export diesel engines for the next generation of Ford Transit Custom vans built in Turkey. Marcus Williams
Trust in Turkey: How exports are carrying the country through its economic crisis Turkey faces some difficult economic headwinds that have already impacted on its automotive industry. But there are still several reasons for optimism, especially the country’s strength as a vehicle export hub with easy access to the European market Nick Gibbs
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
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
