XPO Logistics to manage service parts facility for MG Motor MG Motor is benefitting from a new parts distribution centre (PDC) that XPO Logistics has opened in the UK under a new contract between the two companies. Marcus Williams
Stellantis centralises service parts distribution in Ellesmere Port, UK The newly built facility will distribute 4m spare parts a year to a network of nearly 1,000 service centres via 19 regional hubs. Marcus Williams
Toyota is considering moving production of the GR Corolla from Japan to the UK While the news is not yet official, sources say that Toyota will add an additional production line to its Burnaston plant to try and meet demand for the sports model. If the move goes ahead, production is expected to begin mid-2026. Charlie Blackie-Kelly
ChargePoint and Eaton announce a new collaboration aimed at tackling insufficient EV charging infrastructure The partnership allows the two companies to provide end-to-end solutions for EV infrastructure, including charging stations and engineering services. The goal is to roll these offerings out across the US, Canada and the UK. Charlie Blackie-Kelly
DHL and Cox Automotive launch UK’s largest EV battery services centre for manufacturers to tackle complexities in battery handling Housed within DHL’s 146,000-square-foot EV Centre of Excellence, a joint venture battery hub supports manufacturers and fleet operators across the UK. It combines specialist safety infrastructure, remanufacturing workshops and on-site energy storage to meet tightening regulations and rising demand for transparency around battery health and end of life processing. Emily Uwemedimo
Toyota Motor Manufacturing UK is getting ready to launch its first European recycling factory in the UK Toyota is launching is European recycling initiative in the UK with the launch of its Toyota Circular Factory at the Burnaston plant in Q3 this year, which will supply 120,000 recycled parts to the aftermarket. Marcus Williams
Vehicle ro-ro exports continue to recover at Barcelona while containerised imports double The port of Barcelona has registed an increase in vehicle exports in 2024 and while imports have dropped overall, cars in containers imported have more than doubled. Marcus Williams
Barbara Bergmeier steps down as executive director of industrial operations at JLR, replaced by Nigel Blenkinsop [Updated February 5] Barbara Bergmeier has stepped down as executive director of industrial operations at JLR to be replaced by Nigel Blenkinsop, who will continue her leadership focused on maintaining a robust and sustainable end-to-end supply chain. Marcus Williams
Peel Ports invests £30m in ro-ro berth and pontoon to boost throughput at UK port of Sheerness Peel Ports will begin work on a new ro-ro berth and floating pontoon at the port in March next year with the aim of improving throughput for finished vehicles and other cargo. Marcus Williams
UK budget aims to support EV sector but it’s not enough says SMMT As part of the UK Labour government’s Autumn Budget announcement on October 30, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves announced several measures to support transition to electric vehicles (EV) in the country. Marcus Williams
Euro Car Parts improves aftermarket services with Evri Euro Car Parts has signed a one-year partnership with parcel firm Evri to enhance its service parts distribution in the UK by offering later cut-off times on orders, more convenient click-and-collect options and a commitment to sustainability, according to the company. Marcus Williams
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
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
Digital Catapult launches online supply chain hub for problem-solving innovation Digital Catapult, the UK technology innovator that brings together government, industry and academia, has launched a platform designed to facilitate collaboration between manufacturers and technology providers across the country. Marcus Williams
DHL to provide EV warehousing for Chery brands DHL Supply Chain has partnered with Chinese-owned Omoda and Jaecoo on a three-year warehousing contract that will enable specialist storage of parts and components including batteries for electric and hybrid vehicles. Megan Kelly
BMW renews contract with BCA for UK vehicle remarketing BMW has signed another five-year contract with BCA for used vehicle logistics services in the UK. The contract includes BMW’s specialist leasing and fleet management business Alphabet. The companies signed their first contract in 2018. Marcus Williams
Orbis to open packaging manufacturing plant in Texas Resuable packaging supplier Orbis is entering into a lease-to-own agreement for a manufacturing facility in Greenville, Texas, and will work with industrial real estate developer EPM Partners. Marcus Williams
Speed to market is critical for affordable electric vehicles With more Chinese electric vehicle (EV) makers planning to launch products in the UK in 2024, the race is on for UK and European OEMs to make their mass-market ranges available as quickly as possible. The question is, can they catch up and how should they go about it, ask Vendigital’s Dom Tribe and Sheena Patel Sheena Patel Dom Tribe
JLR’s strategic shift towards a carbon-free future JLR is on a transformative journey to drastically reduce its Scope 3 freight carbon emissions. Under the leadership of freight operations director Levent Yuksel, the company is redefining its logistics services to align with its carbon net-zero ambitions, setting a new standard for supply chain sustainability in the automotive industry. Megan Kelly
DHL Supply Chain establishes HVO fuelling across UK DHL Supply Chain has set up supply lines for hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) across all of its UK fuelling stations throughout the UK. The logistics service provider has moved more than 6m tonnes of the fuel to its UK operations, replacing diesel in 20 locations. Marcus Williams
Tata’s Agratas confirms location of UK gigafactory for anchor client JLR Agratas, Tata Group’s global battery business, will build Britain’s biggest battery manufacturing facility at the Gravity Smart Campus near Bridgwater, Somerset. Megan Kelly
ABP invests to manage larger volumes through UK ports Associated British Ports (ABP) moved 1.3m finished vehicles through its port facilities in the Humber and Southampton last year, with a surge in volumes recorded in Q4. Marcus Williams
Evtec Aluminium to supply JLR with EV powertrain components JLR has signed a supply contract with Evtec Aluminium for the supply of powertrain components on Jaguar’s new line of electric vehicles (EVs), beginning in 2025. They include parts for a 4-door GT model as well as a luxury sedan. The deal is estimated to be worth $67m for Evtec, according to the supplier. Marcus Williams
UK outlines strategy to protect supply of critical materials The UK government’s Department for Business and Trade has launched a Critical Imports and Supply Chains Strategy to safeguard the supply of goods including minerals and semiconductors, seen as essential for the future of the country’s domestic automotive industry. It also includes measures to protect other manufacturing sectors as well as pharmaceutical supplies. Marcus Williams
European Commission calls for three-year extension to EV trade deal with UK The European Commission has proposed a three-year extension to the current rules of origin for battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and batteries under the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA). Marcus Williams
UK government reveals Battery Strategy to support EV production The UK government’s recently announced £2 billion ($2.5 billion) Advanced Manufacturing Plan includes a new Battery Strategy that will see £50m of government funding allocated to deliver a globally competitive battery supply chain by 2030. Marcus Williams
Nissan announces further investment in UK EV supply chain Nissan is expanding its local EV supply chain by investing £3 billion ($3.8 billion) in its EV36Zero hub – the flagship facility centred around its plant in Sunderland, UK, where it will build three new gigafactories in total for its three EV models. Megan Kelly
Peel Ports and Suardíaz set up sustainable logistics for EV parts deliveries to Stellantis Stellantis is benefitting from a sustainable logistics service opened this week that will see EV parts shipped from Spain via the port of Vigo and delivered to a new logistics hub at Merseyside docks in the UK. From there the parts will be moved to its nearby Ellesmere Port assembly plant. Marcus Williams
JLR battles service parts shortage JLR is facing delays in the delivery of service parts to its retail network during the transition of parts distribution from multiple locations to its global parts distribution centre (PDC), nearing completion at Applby Magna, in the UK Midlands. Marcus Williams
BMW’s digital strategy for better supply chain visibility What the disruption caused by the Covid pandemic and subsequent repercussions such as the semiconductor crisis have revealed is that the automotive industry needs a clearer line of sight up and down the supply chain to secure flexible production and the timely delivery of vehicles. Marcus Williams
JS Bolton crosses the pond to manage production at Nissan Sunderland Jennifer Sarah Bolton has moved from her role as director of finished vehicle logistics and supply chain systems and strategy at Nissan North America, based in Tennessee, to take up a new role as director of production at Nissan’s plant in Sunderland, UK. Marcus Williams
JLR to use alternative fuel and EV transport fleet in UK in contract renewal with DHL The carmaker’s UK road freight vehicle fleet is to be replaced with over 220 bio-fuel and electric HGVs by April 2024. Ilkhan Ozsevim
UK supply chain strengthened by EU exports, but rules of origin risks remain for EVs The EU remains the UK’s largest export market, accounting for 59% of all British car shipments, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), but risks such as looming Rules of Origin tariffs threaten future growth. Megan Kelly
What Tata’s new UK battery gigafactory means for the supply chain Tata’s announcement of a new battery plant in Somerset is a significant development for the future of UK automotive manufacturing. Automotive Logistics looks closer at what it means for the supply chain’s bottom lines. Daniel Harrison
Tata to build UK gigafactory with JLR as anchor client and strong benefits for supply chain Tata Group has confirmed it will build a £4bn ($5.2bn) battery cell gigafactory in Somerset in the UK, establishing a regional battery supply chain for JLR. Megan Kelly
UK automotive supply chain demands support in EV transition The UK automotive industry is calling for an industrial strategy to aid its transition to electric vehicles (EVs). Megan Kelly
XPO Logistics and Mazda use HVO trucks to cut aftersales emissions XPO Logistics and Mazda UK are working together to cut the carbon dioxide emissions from the carmaker’s aftersales parts distribution network. Megan Kelly
Stellantis warns rules of origin threaten production and raise logistics costs Stellantis said it will be at a “major competitive disadvantage” against Asian imports if it is unable to rely on sufficient electric vehicle (EV) battery production in the UK and Europe. Megan Kelly
Jaguar Land Rover plans EV supply chain for UK Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) plans to supply electric drives and battery packs from its Wolverhampton Engine Manufacturing Centre to its UK assembly plants for next-generation electric vehicle (EV) production. Christopher Ludwig
UK electric truck market two decades behind passenger cars The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has appealed to the UK government to come up with a dedicated charging and hydrogen infrastructure for electric heavy goods vehicles (HGVs). Marcus Williams
BYD delivers first vehicles to UK but rules out local production BYD Auto delivered its first fully electric passenger car to the UK in March but the Chinese vehicle maker has ruled out building a manufacturing plant in the country because of Brexit. Marcus Williams
Improved chip supply helps JLR return to profit Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has reported an improvement in the supply of semiconductors chips helped it return to profitability in the third quarter. Marcus Williams
Britishvolt collapse a shock to UK’s electric vehicle goals The collapse of Britishvolt’s battery manufacturing ambitions in the UK, which was announced last week, is a setback for the UK automotive sector as it strives to become a competitive market for electric vehicle production. Marcus Williams
Vehicle-handling expansion at port of Liverpool Following an agreement worth £1m ($1.2m) signed between UK port and logistics services company SCH and Peel Ports, vehicle storage at the UK’s port of Liverpool has been expanded by more than 25% to over 4 hectares. Marcus Williams
Stellantis to benefit from short-sea delivery of parts into Ellesmere Port Stellantis is setting up a new twice-weekly shipping service with Suardíaz from the port of Vigo in Spain to the Queen Elizabeth II Eastham docks in the UK. Marcus Williams
Jaguar Land Rover adjusts assembly mix to manage chip shortage Jaguar Land Rover is cutting production of certain products at its Halewood and Solihull plants in UK between January and March next year because of the ongoing shortage of semiconductors, which is affecting carmakers globally. Marcus Williams
Neil Marsons leaves purchasing role at Jaguar Land Rover Close on the heels of CEO Thierry Bolloré leaving Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), the carmaker has confirmed that its director of global purchasing, Neil Marsons, is also leaving the company. No permanent replacement has yet been announced. Marcus Williams
Jaguar Land Rover chooses Wolfspeed for semiconductor supply Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has contracted electronic subcomponents supplier Wolfspeed to supply semiconductors for the inverters used in its forthcoming electric vehicles (EVs). Inverters manage the transfer of power from the battery to the electric motor. Hazel Southwell
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
Mercedes-Benz Trucks partners with XPO to open UK distribution hub Mercedes-Benz Trucks has opened a new, dedicated service hub that will store spare parts and act as the logistics centre for all of its UK-based trucks, and also those of Daimler sister brand Fuso. At 13,000 sq.m it adds a fifth more space capacity than current facilities and is based in Willen, just outside Milton Keynes. Hazel Southwell
BCA takes over rival UK vehicle haulier ECM The UK’s biggest finished vehicle transport provider BCA has bought rival car haulier ECM for an undisclosed sum, which will give the carrier one of the largest fleets in Europe. Marcus Williams
BMW streamlines steel press logistics at Swindon BMW is now using automated guided vehicles (AGVs) from EK Robotics to move steel blanks and panels around its new press facility in Swindon, UK. The parts are then delivered to the Mini assembly plant in Oxford, around 50km away. Marcus Williams
Clean energy around the coast The main vehicle-handling ports in the UK were dealing with volatile volumes and labour shortages last year but business continues on a more sustainable footing for the future. Marcus Williams
Ford signs up DHL for fleet services DHL Inside Track has secured a new multi-year contract with Ford Fleet Management to organise the preparation and transport of leased vehicles in the UK. Jason Dunn
Toyota makes major shift to rail for vehicle moves in Europe Toyota has started exporting vehicles made at its Burnaston plant in the UK to Europe on rail via the Channel Tunnel. It is also importing vehicles produced at the Valenciennes plant in France to the UK along the same route. Marcus Williams
VW extends contract with Unipart Logistics in UK Volkswagen Group has extended its contract with Unipart Logistics for aftermarket services in the UK and Ireland for a further two years. The logistics provider has been working with VW in the UK since 2018. Marcus Williams
Start-up pace, high-end experience at Lotus It is all change as Lotus gears up to make itself a global contender in the production of high-end, electric sportscars. Michael Dickinson, executive director of supply, describes how integrating supply chain functions and scaling operations will help Lotus keep pace with launches while remaining as agile as any new player would be. By Christopher Ludwig and Marcus Williams Christopher Ludwig Marcus Williams
Bentley includes logistics in carbon reduction initiative Luxury carmaker Bentley Motors has furthered efforts to reduce the carbon output from its operations at the Crewe plant in the UK and reports an 81% reduction in absolute CO2 emissions per vehicle made. Marcus Williams
Gefco invests in UK sequencing centre to support Jaguar Land Rover Gefco has expanded its operations in the Merseyside region of the UK with the opening of a 16,350 sq.m logistics sequencing centre next to its existing facility in Speke. Marcus Williams
UK haulage industry in crisis as driver numbers haemorrhage The current fuel crisis in the UK, which is being blamed on a severe shortage of HGV drivers available to distribute it, is the latest example of a transport staffing crisis that is now affecting most industries, including automotive. Jason Dunn
Cazoo doubles vehicle logistics capability in UK with SHM buyout Online used car retailer Cazoo has bought SMH Fleet Solutions, one of the UK’s leading vehicle preparation, logistics and storage businesses, for £70m ($51m). The takeover will double Cazoo’s reconditioning and logistics capability in the UK, as well as its storage capacity, according to the company. Marcus Williams
Marcelo Navarro to lead logistics at Lotus as it expands global supply chain As it gears up to launch new, electric models and produce in China, Lotus Group has reorganised its supply chain management, with Mike Dickinson now leading an integrated purchasing and supply chain division, and Marcelo Wilson Navarro responsible for logistics. Jason Dunn Christopher Ludwig
DHL Supply Chain supports monthly mobility with outbound services Well established as a global inbound logistics provider, DHL Supply Chain is also refining its services to the outbound sector as end customers choose to use the vehicles they drive in different ways. Marcus Williams
DB Cargo to open rail hub to transport Toyota vehicles between the UK and Europe using vegetable oil power Fleets of Toyota cars will be shipped from a new train depot in Nottinghamshire as the UK’s largest rail freight company initiates a double-pronged push towards sustainability. Jason Dunn
British car manufacturing recovery hampered by ‘pingdemic’ and chip shortages UK vehicle production and exports are rising from pandemic lows, but the sector facing serious challenges in supply chain bottlenecks and labour shortages because of the need to self-isolate. Jason Dunn
Second phase of work on Jaguar Land Rover’s logistics centre underway Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has started the second phase of development on its new 92,000 sq.m logistics operations centre near Solihull in the UK’s west Midlands region Marcus Williams
Lotus Cars contracts DHL to handle inbound logistics in UK Sportscar maker Lotus Cars has chosen DHL Supply Chain to manage warehousing and transport operations for production of the Emira sportscar on a five-year contract. Operations will start next month. Marcus Williams
Stellantis invests in Ellesmere Port for electric future Stellantis is investing £100m ($137m) in Vauxhall’s Ellesmere Port plant for the exclusive production of electric vehicles. The move will contribute to the establishment of a net zero carbon automotive industry in the UK by 2030, by which time production of pure petrol and diesel engine vehicles is legislated to end. Marcus Williams
Nissan announces battery hub and electric crossover for UK Nissan and its battery making partner Envision AESC are investing £1 billion in a 9 GWh-capacity gigafactory next to the carmaker’s assembly plant in the UK. Nissan is also going to make a new-generation electric crossover at the plant. Marcus Williams
Unipart Logistics to run JLR aftermarket parts facility in UK Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has signed up Unipart Logistics on a five-year contract to run its global parts logistics centre at Appleby Magna in the UK Midlands. The 270,000 sq.m facility, which will distribute aftermarket parts, is due to open in 2022. Marcus Williams
ABP turns to Inform for digital vehicle management at Southampton Logistics software specialist Inform is providing an integrated and scalable cloud management system for Associated British Ports’ (ABP) vehicle terminal operations. Marcus Williams
International Motors to take over Mitsubishi aftersales in UK International Motors (IM) is in talks with Mitsubishi Motors in the UK to take over the carmaker’s aftersales business this autumn. Marcus Williams
Building a future for vehicle trade after Covid Last year was one of unprecedented challenge for the UK’s vehicle handling ports but, as Marcus Williams reports, they maintained operations, invested in infrastructure and are taking lessons forward for future trade Marcus Williams
AL FVL Spring 2021 Digital Edition – Coping strategies for a global crisis The spring digital edition of Automotive Logistics and Finished Vehicle Logistics is out now, featuring comprehensive overviews of the main vehicle ports in continental Europe and the UK, as well as the maritime transport sector. Plus, we look at the latest packaging initiative supporting VW’s lithium-ion battery deliveries to VW Zwickau, Vijay Ratnaparkhe’s IT revolution at Bosch and talk to carmakers about supply chain lessons ten years on from the Fukushima earthquake disaster Automotive Logistics
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
Mini gets more sustainable on inbound moves with Imperial BMW is benefitting from more sustainable inbound logistics at its Mini plant in Oxford, UK thanks to the deployment by its transport provider, Imperial Logistics, of a new fleet of 18 trucks powered by liquified natural gas (LNG). The trucks are being used to transport parts, including engines, from suppliers on 15 routes across the UK into the Oxford plant. Marcus Williams
Jaguar Land Rover reimagines its electric future Jaguar will be a purely electric vehicle (EV) maker by 2025, with its partner Land Rover also adding six pure electric variants over the next five years as it aims to power 60% of its products with “zero-tailpipe powertrains” by 2030. The first pure-electric Land Rover will go on sale in 2024 and diesel models will be phased out in 2026. Marcus Williams
Watch: Beyond Brexit – Navigating global trade and customs (EP.5) Watch this Livestream Hour episode to get the inside track on coping with Brexit and optimising global trade processes, with exclusive insight from customs experts at Volvo Cars and GEFCO
Marvin Cooke to oversee production and logistics at Toyota Motor Europe Marvin Cooke has moved to become executive vice president of manufacturing at Toyota Motor Europe (TME). He will oversee the operations of all Toyota plants across Europe, overseeing the Toyota Production System, including logistics, production control and production engineering. Marcus Williams
Automotive sector welcomes EU-UK trade deal The UK car industry has welcomed the new EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), which was finally announced on December 24. The agreement avoids a no-deal Brexit that would have added tariff charges to the import and export of parts and vehicles, but there are still hurdles to overcome in terms of new customs procedures. Marcus Williams
France and other EU countries close border with UK putting freight flows at risk A number of countries, including France, have closed their borders with the UK to passengers and accompanied freight following the discovery of a new strain of coronavirus in the UK which is suspected to be more infectious than previous types. Illya Verpraet
Can the UK supply chain keep up with a 2030 ban on new ICE vehicle sales? The UK government has announced it is bringing forward its plans to phase out the sale of new cars and vans powered by internal combustion engines. Daniel Harrison, automotive analyst at Ultima Media, examines how realistic that is and whether supply chains are ready to produce enough electric vehicles and batteries. Daniel Harrison
Industry makes last call for zero tariffs and greater clarity on Brexit Bodies representing the UK’s automotive and logistics sectors are calling on the government for a zero-tariff trade deal with the European Union and clearer instruction on customs processes as Brexit negotiations enter their final stage. Marcus Williams
Mercedes-Benz to increase stake in Aston Martin Daimler’s Mercedes-Benz division is increasing its stake in Aston Martin Lagonda from 5% to 20% in what the carmakers are calling a ‘strategic technology agreement’. Marcus Williams
Unipart Logistics using digital technology for Kubota aftermarket Unipart Logistics, the supply chain services division of Unipart Group, has extended its partnership with equipment maker Kubota UK to provide aftermarket warehouse operations. Marcus Williams
No deal Brexit would increase cost of EVs by £2,800, says SMMT The UK’s Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has warned that a no deal Brexit could push up the cost of buying an imported battery electric vehicle (BEV) in the UK by £2,800 ($3,600). Two thirds of all BEVs on sale in the UK are imported from Europe and between January and September this year 40.8% of all the new BEVs registered on UK roads came from the EU, more than from any other territory. Marcus Williams
The supply and demand of power The future of vehicle propulsion depends on greater integration of engine technology, emerging trends in vehicle use and the changing supply chain for materials used in alternative powertrains. Jon Beasley, director of technology and projects at the UK’s Advanced Propulsion Centre talks to Daniel Harrison about the technology pushing the sector forward Daniel Harrison
Next step into the unprecedented The disruption to the global automotive supply chain caused by the coronavirus pandemic is being exacerbated by uncertainty fed by a lack of accurate information. At last week’s Automotive Supply Chain update webinar, presented by Ultima Media’s business intelligence unit, analysts tried to provide some clarity on the current situation and what lay ahead for the industry Marcus Williams
Al-air: a better battery for EVs? The deficiencies of Li-ion batteries contribute to consumer doubts about EVs, but switching to a different type of technology – Al-air – could solve crucial problems Richard Brown
Fighting back against fake parts Counterfeit components can be dangerous for road users and are a growing problem for the automotive industry. Automotive Logistics examines the lucrative fake parts trade Richard Brown
Damage control: How technology can assist vehicle inspection The quality of finished vehicles has traditionally been checked by eye, but this convention is being challenged by automated image technology such as that developed by British start-up DeGould Victoria Johns
Blowing the footprint at Castle Bromwich Jaguar Land Rover’s Castle Bromwich plant in the UK Midlands was this year’s venue for the Automotive Logistics UK summit. Originally the site made fighter planes and bombers, a fitting location for an industry doing battle with economic and trade uncertainty, and a carmaker used to facing adversity with innovation Marcus Williams
Comment: It’s carmaking, Jim, but not as we know it – Grenadier turns industry logic on its head Ian Henry
Tariffs, trade and technology drive European supply chain into new era The European logistics sector is undergoing unprecedented change. Britain’s exit from the EU and the red tape of regulation are among its biggest challenges, delegates heard at the Automotive Logistics Global Munich conference last week. Victoria Johns
Flight club: Why more logistics operations are signing up to drone technology Impressive advancements have been made in drone technology over the last few years and many believe that drones will play a key role in the logistics of the future, for internal business functions as well as deliveries to consumers. In fact, NASA estimates that there will be 7m drones in US skies alone by 2020. Victoria Johns
Brose adopts AGVs to improve efficiency Automotive parts supplier, Brose, has announced it is using automated guided vehicles (AGVs) at one of its UK plants in Coventry to optimise logistics operations, achieve efficiency gains and win new business on future model launches. Steve Garnsey
Reality check: How AR can improve efficiency in logistics A growing number of companies in the automotive industry are embracing the use of augmented and virtual reality technology for tasks such as part picking and inventory management, as well as for training. We look at some of the latest applications Abigail 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
Brexit uncertainty causing concern for automotive With a reliance on just-in-time and just-in-sequence supply chains, the automotive industry is one of the most vulnerable sectors to disruption caused by a disorderly British exit from the EU Steve Garnsey
The long way home For inbound automotive supply chains, returnable packaging just makes sense. No carmaker wants to spend money on wood, paper and cardboard again and again, only to have to fork out straight away for costly waste disposal. Jonathan Ward
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
Africa awakes Africa’s vehicle production and distribution sector still trails much of the rest of the world, but the signs are that this is beginning to change Gavin du Venage
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