GM

Mexican automakers hope to fire on all cylinders in 2021

After a disruptive year, Mexico’s light vehicle manufacturers hope to revive a sector depressed by the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as hampered by shortages of semiconductor components and energy for factories.

Some of the best opportunities for the industry’s recovery could come from U.S.-China trade tensions, along with changes initiated by the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), said José Zozaya Délano, executive president of the Mexican Automotive Industry Association (AMIA).

“It is...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/mexican-automakers-hope-to-fire-on-all-cylinders-in-2021

Texas blackouts cost Mexican manufacturers $2.7B

Rolling power blackouts have affected key industrial sites across Mexico, including border states home to hundreds of factories producing everything from auto parts to electronics.

Factories across northern Mexico states such as Tamaulipas, Chihuahua and Nuevo Leon reported more than $2.7 billion in losses from blackouts that started Monday when Texas began limiting natural gas supplies, according to Mexico’s National Council of the Maquiladora and Export Manufacturing (INDEX).

INDEX reported...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/texas-blackouts-cost-mexican-manufacturers-$27b

The Daily Dash: C.R. England strikes back; XPO bullish on 2021

The Daily Dash is a quick look at what is happening in the freight ecosystem. In today’s edition, C.R. England, one of the carriers targeted in a staged-accident scheme, is suing the law firm involved. Plus, XPO thinks 2021 is only going to get better, and Forward Air makes an acquisition and a divestiture.

C.R. England fighting back

Truckload carrier C.R. England, the company that court records suggest paid out the greatest amount of money in the Louisiana staged-accident scandal, is fighting...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/the-daily-dash:-cr-england-strikes-back;-xpo-bullish-on-2021

Chip shortage forces automakers to adjust Mexico plants

The U.S.-Mexico automotive production industry has been affected by a global semiconductor supply chain disruption that has slowed assembly lines around the world. 

General Motors and Volkswagen recently announced they were extending shutdowns or adjusting production schedules at plants in Mexico due to semiconductor chip shortages. 

Volkswagen de México said Thursday it will adjust its production schedule at its plant in Puebla, Mexico, for the Jetta model until March 5 due to lack of components.

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/chip-shortage-forces-automakers-to-adjust-mexico-plants

GM bets on BrightDrop’s connected last-mile delivery ecosystem

BrightDrop electric pallet

Many shippers in the e-commerce segment learned invaluable lessons in 2020 — siloed solutions don’t work well when scale and speed are a must. The same can be said for last-mile delivery operations. Siloed operations — where data, equipment and people are operating on different timelines — can doom the overall customer experience.

Currently, hundreds of vehicle makers — both legacy and startups — are working to bring electric vehicles to market. For the e-commerce brand or anyone else involved...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/gm-bets-on-brightdrops-connected-last-mile-delivery-ecosystem

The Daily Dash: UPS’ blowout quarter; Mayor Pete now Secretary Pete

The Daily Dash is a quick look at what is happening in the freight ecosystem. In today’s edition, the surge in e-commerce resulted in a strong Q4 for UPS, which easily beat analysts’ estimates. Plus, the U.S. Senate confirms Pete Buttigieg as U.S. Department of Transportation secretary, and Forward Air announces a general rate increase.

Times are good

As e-commerce surged in 2020, especially heading into the holidays, UPS Inc. (NYSE: UPS) saw demand for its services rise, and that led to a...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/the-daily-dash-ups-blowout-quarter-mayor-pete-now-secretary-pete

The Daily Dash: TFI still on the hunt; truckers exempt from mask requirement

The Daily Dash is a quick look at what is happening in the freight ecosystem. In today’s edition, TFI International is continuing its acquisition spree, acquiring Fleetway less than a week after buying UPS Freight. Plus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is exempting truck drivers from its mask requirement, and Daseke is looking for possible acquisitions.

Still on the hunt

Less than a week after its blockbuster acquisition of UPS Freight (NYSE:UPS), TFI International (NYSE: TFII) is...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/the-daily-dash-tfi-still-on-the-hunt-truckers-exempt-from-mask-requirement

The Daily Dash: TFI, the Teamsters and their new relationship

The Daily Dash is a quick look at what is happening in the freight ecosystem. In today’s edition, TFI International CEO Alain Bedard praised the Teamsters long before the company announced the acquisition of the unionized UPS Freight. Plus, Marten and Knight-Swift both posted strong earnings results in Q4, and the Biden administration has revoked a Department of Labor opinion letter on employee classification.

Laying the groundwork

TFI International (NYSE:TFII) CEO Alain Bedard may have been...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/the-daily-dash-tfi-the-teamsters-and-their-new-relationship

The Daily Dash: Heartland kicks off earnings season; court sides with FMCSA over California

The Daily Dash is a quick look at what is happening in the freight ecosystem. In today’s edition, Heartland Express has kicked off the Q4 earnings season, posting an improvement in operating income. Plus, an appeals court said California can’t supersede FMCSA regulations on hours of service, and Daseke’s board chairman talks the future of the company.

Earnings season kicks off

The first truckload carrier to announce Q4 earnings reported a slight year-over-year decline in revenue but improvement...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/the-daily-dash-heartland-kicks-off-earnings-season-court-sides-with-fmcsa-over-california

The Daily Dash: Rand McNally ELDs are back online; GM, Nikola reach revised agreement

The Daily Dash is a quick look at what is happening in the freight ecosystem. In today’s edition, what was described as a “cyber incident” has now been resolved at Rand McNally, and the company’s ELDs are back online. Plus, GM will no longer take an equity stake in Nikola and J.B. Hunt acquires a final-mile provider.

Rand McNally back online

Five days later, Rand McNally’s electronic logging device system is back online. The company’s DriverConnect platform, which includes the ELD, fell victim to...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/the-daily-dash-rand-mcnally-elds-are-back-online-gm-nikola-reach-revised-agreement

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